His behavior in the locker room isn't what is being discussed. No one has said he should be suspended, fined, or banned because of how he acted in the locker room. We're all talking about what he did at the press conference. If he did something behind closed doors, that's a separate issue.
To address that article though, the media hasn't been present in the locker room so they haven't witnessed anything firsthand. Everything presented is coming from anonymous sources. All of the Jazz players have been in quarantine since this happened so I find it a little hard to believe that they're reaching out to reporters to throw Gobert under the bus right now, while he's off battling the virus. It is possible though, I just find it a little suspect at this point in time.
Of course no one in that are are saying he should be punished for his actions at the press conference, which is what is being discussed. Going beyond that press conference though, none of his teammates are calling for him to be punished in some way either. Being disappointed with him or upset with him isn't the same as calling for his job or for him to be fined.
Another thing that isn't addressed is how Gobert is French and how the French are a much more physical culture. So has his behavior changed with the threat of this virus or did he continue acting as he normally does? That isn't answered. It's not an excuse but if we're going to discuss how he behaved in the locker room then looking into whether he became more physical as of late is worth looking into.
No one here is saying what he did was funny, entertaining, or right either but some of us believe he shouldn't be reprimanded for it by the Jazz organization or the NBA. You all have the right to be mad at him for what he did and believe he shouldn't have done it, I agree with that, but that doesn't change his intent. He intended to make a joke and that was obvious by his actions and statements made after the fact, in addition to how the majority of the press in the room laughed at it. Not all jokes are verbal, nor should someone be limited to only verbal jokes as a form or free expression.
