That story really stands out for Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who had quite the story to explain the swelling between his nose and right eye Thursday morning.
“It was like seven boys,” Gobert said after the shootout in Jazz’s Game 6, “but I’m the only one that got out of the room.”
The 7-foot-1, 258-pound Gobert was just kidding. His actual attacker? A bee from the hive he owns at his home on the outskirts of Salt Lake City.
Gobert has lived in the Beehive State for nine years, but only bought his own beehive about a year ago. He is very happy with the purchase, although he has been stung a few times since then.
“It’s good for the environment, it’s good for the landscape, it’s good for the flowers, it’s good for the fruit,” said Gobert, whose vision was unaffected by the sting. “And I love honey, so I’ve always wanted to have my own. He is amazing. Sometimes there are losses.”
Gobert explained that his bees are “a little upset” since he worked with a beekeeper this week to change the queen bee in his hive, so his sting wasn’t too surprising. He also insists it’s not necessarily a bad thing, noting that he “always felt great for the next few days” after getting stung, and that there’s actually scientific research to suggest that a bee sting – “not a swarm” – – can be healthy.
“There are actually some treatments that involve intentionally stinging people,” Gobert said.