These Feuding All-star Teammates "The Most Underplayed Story In The League"

There are so many challenges in the NBA for a wannabe championship contender, but when that team's two star players are feuding, it makes title visions nearly impossible. In Utah, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are finally returning to the lineup after missing some time, but these two have been sniping at each other for some time. "There is some drama here," said NBA Insider Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective podcast. 

It's the most underplayed story in the league right now... They're under each other's skin. There's all kinds of sub-tweets and passive-aggressive stuff going on. Gobert has been pretty clear that he's blaming Donovan for (the team's drop to 14th in defense from 3rd last season).

May we present Exhibit A, your honor, in the Gobert passive-aggressive calling out of Spida (clearly the Jazz' Devin Booker-equivalent): 

Rudy Gobert subtweet? pic.twitter.com/tMuFTRiHqG

— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) January 14, 2022

“I watch some of these other teams like the Suns or Warriors, those guys are a step ahead of us in terms of winning habits," said Gobert a couple of weeks ago. "Devin Booker is playing his a** off defensively…Guys like that, they buy in, and you can tell they take pride in playing defense.” 

ESPN's Tim Bontemps asked "Was Rudy Gobert talking about Donovan Mitchell in that quote? I think the answer is unequivocally YES!" 

And Mitchell apparently felt that way too.  “We all, as a group, find ways to hold each other accountable. That’s just his way about it, I guess,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know. I’m not really concerned about it."

Tensions are definitely rising, and the Jazz' fortunes are falling. It's all going to have to be addressed at some point. Mitchell has already been rumored to be headed East if they flame out in the playoffs again this season.

Photo Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports