Utah's Rudy Gobert shows off swollen eye after getting stung by bee from his own hive before Game 6
The Utah Jazz are trying to avoid the sting of postseason elimination on Thursday, but center Rudy Gobert got a literal taste of a sting earlier in the week.
Gobert reported to Thursday's shootaround ahead of Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks with swelling under his right eye after he was stung by a bee on the nose on Tuesday while attempting to swap out the queen bee in the personal hive at his property.
"I've been stung maybe three times since I got (the hive)," Gobert told reporters Thursday. "It didn't really hurt but when I woke up the next day, it was a little swollen."
Gobert said some of his teammates didn't even notice the swelling, while others asked "what's wrong with your face?" He showed off the aftermath on Instagram, writing, "It be your own bees sometimes."
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Gobert said he purchased a beehive for his home in Salt Lake City about a year ago because it's good for the environment and landscape, plus he loves honey. He said owning a hive has been "great," although there's unfortunately "some casualties" from time to time, as evidenced on Thursday. But he's looking at the silver lining.
"It's actually good to get stung by a bee," said Gobert, referring to anti-inflammatory properties in bee venom that can benefit your skin and immune system. "It doesn't look like it right now, but there's actually some good health benefits. There's some treatments... people get stung on purpose. I didn't."
Although Gobert said he got stung in a "rough spot," the swelling hasn't impacted his vision and he's good to go for Thursday's must-win Game 6 against the Mavericks in Utah. He's averaging 12.4 points and 13.4 rebounds through the first five games of the first-round series. Dallas leads the series 3-2.
He added that he's "always felt great the next few days after (being stung), for some reason," so maybe getting stung days before Game 6 isn't bad timing after all.