Vincent Poirier will make his NBA debut in the 2019-20 season for the Boston Celtics. Fortunately for him, he already received some tips from fellow French man and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert during the FIBA World Cup in China.
The 25-year-old Poirier shared that Gobert gave him some key details about playing defense in the NBA. He also noted that the French national team fielded a defensive package similar to that of the Celtics.
“He helped me a lot, especially on all the defensive stuff,” Poirier said, per Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. “I knew the defense we played with the national team would be more like Boston’s. So [Gobert] helped me a lot. I come now, and I know how to play defense.”
Under head coach Brad Stevens, the Celtics have been ranked as one of the top defensive teams in the league. As such, much is expected from the Poirier, whom Boston hopes can provide them with some much-needed rim protection and rebounding.
Last season, he played for Spanish club Baskonia where he averaged 10.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks in 73 games (59 starts) across the Euroleague and Spanish ACB. Poirier led his team in rebounding and was third in scoring.
In the 34 games he played in the Euroleague, Poirier ranked first across the competition in both rebounding with 8.3 per contest.
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