Rudy Gay

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Rudy Gay

| image = Rudy_Gay_Kings.jpg

| caption = Gay with the Sacramento Kings in 2013

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 250

| league =

| team =

| birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1986|8|17|mf=y}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.

| high_school =

Eastern Technical {{nowrap|(Essex, Maryland)}}
Archbishop Spalding {{nowrap|(Severn, Maryland)}}

| college = UConn (2004–2006)

| career_position = Power forward / small forward

| career_number = 8, 22

| draft_year = 2006

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 8

| draft_team = Houston Rockets

| career_start = 2006

| career_end = 2023

| years1 = {{nbay|2006|start}}–{{nbay|2012|end}}

| team1 = Memphis Grizzlies

| years2 = 2013

| team2 = Toronto Raptors

| years3 = {{nbay|2013|start}}–{{nbay|2016|end}}

| team3 = Sacramento Kings

| years4 = {{nbay|2017|start}}–{{nbay|2020|end}}

| team4 = San Antonio Spurs

| years5 = {{nbay|2021|start}}–{{nbay|2022|end}}

| team5 = Utah Jazz

| highlights =

NBA All-Rookie First Team ({{nbay|2006|end}})
Consensus second-team All-American (2006)
First-team All-Big East (2006)
Big East Rookie of the Year (2005)
Big East All-Rookie Team (2005)
First-team Parade All-American (2004)
McDonald's All-American (2004)

| stat1label = Points

| stat1value = 17,642 (15.8 ppg)

| stat2label = Rebounds

| stat2value = 6,283 (5.6 rpg)

| stat3label = Assists

| stat3value = 2,280 (2.0 apg)

| medal_templates =

{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|United States}}}}

}}

Rudy Carlton Gay Jr. (born August 17, 1986){{cite web|title=NBA Players: Rudy Gay Profile and Basic Stats|url=https://www.landofbasketball.com/nba_players/g/rudy_gay.htm|website=LandOfBasketball.com|access-date=November 2, 2020}} is an American former professional basketball player. A forward, he played college basketball for the UConn Huskies before being selected eighth overall in the 2006 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets, but was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies days later.{{cite web|title=Rudy Gay Stats|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gayru01.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=November 2, 2020}} He was named to the 2007 All-Rookie First Team.

Early life

Born in Brooklyn, New York,{{Cite web|url=https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/rudy-gay-toronto-raptors/|title=Through the Wire|date=July 22, 2013|website=SLAM}} to Rae Gay and Rudy Gay Sr., former lead singer of the R&B group Ace Spectrum and band director for The Stylistics,{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/basketball/bs-sp-rudy-gay-nba-afterlife-20191222-6zetioevqvglflabtza3zxdv5e-story.html|title = As long NBA career continues, Dundalk native Rudy Gay works on transition game on and off the court| date=December 22, 2019 }} Gay began playing competitive recreational basketball at the age of 12 in his hometown of Dundalk, Maryland. At the age of 14, Gay began playing for the nationally known Cecil-Kirk AAU program under coach Anthony Lewis.{{Cite web|url=http://dailyorange.com/2006/03/big-east-notebook-gay-s-aau-coach-didn-t-notice-superstar-qualities-right-away/|title=Big East Notebook : Gay's AAU coach didn't notice superstar qualities right away|date=March 6, 2006|website=The Daily Orange}}

Gay played his first two years of high school basketball at Baltimore County's Eastern Technical High School, a magnet school in Essex. He played varsity basketball both years. In his sophomore season at Eastern Tech, the Mavericks earned their first and only trip to College Park for the state semi-finals. Although Eastern Tech was a Blue Ribbon academic institution, Gay's parents were concerned about his college preparation. He began his junior year with Eastern Tech, but in September 2002, he transferred to Archbishop Spalding in Severn. This prompted the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association to review its transfer rules.{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/12/11/uconns-gay-shooting-for-stardom/|title=UConn's Gay shooting for stardom|work=BaltimoreSun.com |first=Paul|last=McMullen|date=December 11, 2004|access-date=December 16, 2015}} He began playing basketball for Spalding as a junior in 2002–03, earning first-team All-Baltimore Catholic League honors as a junior and senior, and was also honored as the Baltimore Sun's co-player of the year as a senior.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/high-school/bal-sp.boys22mar22-story.html|title=2003-04 All-Metro boys basketball teams|date=March 22, 2004|website=Baltimore Sun}} He was the Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American, and a Parade first-team All-American in his senior year after averaging 21.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game.{{cite news|title=Meet PARADE's All-America High School Boys Basketball Team |url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2004/edition_04-04-2004/featured_1 |first=Michael |last=O'Shea |work=Parade |date=April 4, 2004 |access-date=July 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930152234/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2004/edition_04-04-2004/featured_1 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }} Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Gay was listed as the No. 2 small forward and the No. 5 player in the nation in 2004.[https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/player-Rudy-Gay-8967 Rudy Gay – Yahoo! Sports]{{cite web|url=http://archbishopspalding.org/page.aspx?pid=546|title=Rudy Gay '04 Helps USA beat Turkey 81-64 to win the 2010 FIBA World Championship Crown|publisher=Archbishop Spalding High School|access-date=September 8, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908180004/http://archbishopspalding.org/page.aspx?pid=546|archive-date=September 8, 2014}}

=College recruitment=

Gay's college recruitment and decision to attend the University of Connecticut over the University of Maryland were controversial. Gay had expressed a desire to attend Maryland and said that he grew up rooting for the team, but he ultimately chose UConn. Because of the heavy involvement of an AAU coach and a high school coach, there was the appearance of impropriety, although no NCAA recruiting violations were discovered.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021202299.html|title=It's a Whole New Ballgame, and Maryland's Williams Isn't Playing|work=WashingtonPost.com|first1=Eric|last1=Prisbell|first2=Steve|last2=Yanda|date=February 13, 2009|access-date=December 16, 2015}} The NCAA adopted a new scheduling rule after UConn paid $25,000 to schedule a game against the Beltway Ballers, an ad hoc AAU team that consisted of Gay's former teammates.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Hoyas rookie wins battle |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jan/9/20050109-125720-7898r/ |website=The Washington Times}} Although it violated no standing rule at the time,{{Cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/2004/11/04/barnstorming-days-are-over/ |title=Barnstorming Days Are Over |access-date=December 16, 2015 |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223122340/http://articles.courant.com/2004-11-04/sports/0411040071_1_beltway-ballers-ncaa-board-basketball-teams |url-status=live }} media observers and Connecticut staff considered it directly connected to the recruitment.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/6813775|title=Exhibition ban would eliminate cheat potential, perception - NCAA Division I Mens Basketball - CBSSports.com News, Scores, Stats, Schedule and RPI Rankings|date=October 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013115917/http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/6813775 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 }} According to individuals close to Maryland head coach Gary Williams, the recruitment demonstrated that rule-bending is often necessary to secure highly touted players, which Williams said he was unwilling to do, even at the expense of recruiting.

College career

Gay with UConn coach [[Jim Calhoun in 2003|thumb]]

As a freshman at Connecticut in 2004–05, Gay was a co-winner (with Jeff Green of Georgetown) of the Big East Conference Rookie of the Year award after averaging 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists on .462 shooting in 28.8 minutes in 31 games. He was a unanimous Big East All-Rookie Team selection, was named National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News, and earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors five times.{{cite news |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rudy_gay/bio/ |title=Rudy Gay Stats, Video, Bio, Profile |work=NBA.com |access-date=December 16, 2015}}

In the summer of 2005, Gay played for United States' Men's Under-21 World Championship Team. He averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game over the tournament.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/53784/sid/6241/tid/379/_/2014_FIBA_Basketball_World_Cup/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811041635/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/53784/sid/6241/tid/379/_/2014_FIBA_Basketball_World_Cup/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2015|title=Rudy Gay profile, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014|website=FIBA.COM}}

Before his sophomore season began, Gay was nominated as Big East Preseason Player of the Year, along with Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara. After the season concluded, Gay was one of four division one college players nominated for the Naismith College Player of the Year Award (along with JJ Redick, Adam Morrison and Allan Ray). Also, he was a unanimous selection to the First-team All-Big East. He led the Huskies in scoring (15.2 points) while averaging 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 30.8 minutes in 33 games as a sophomore. He was named first-team All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and was named to the 2006 Washington, D.C. Regional All-Tournament Team. He scored a career-high 28 points on November 21, 2005, against Arkansas. Gay led the Huskies to a 30–3 record and finished his college career with 20 points and six rebounds in a career-high 42 minutes in an NCAA Elite Eight loss to George Mason on March 26.

On April 24, 2006, Gay declared for the 2006 NBA draft.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/draft2006/news/story?id=2411206 |title=Gay to leave UConn for NBA draft |publisher=ESPN |date=April 24, 2006 |access-date=July 6, 2007}}

In February 2012, Gay was inducted into the "Huskies of Honor".{{cite web | title = RUDY GAY TO HUSKIES OF HONOR | url = http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/022412aaa.html | work = uconnhuskies.com | date = February 25, 2012 | access-date = December 16, 2015 | archive-date = May 1, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170501025928/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/022412aaa.html | url-status = dead }}

Professional career

=Memphis Grizzlies (2006–2013)=

Gay was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets, who then traded him and Stromile Swift to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shane Battier on July 12. Gay immediately signed his rookie scale contract with the Grizzlies upon being acquired by the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/gay_swift_release-060712.html|title=Grizzlies Trade Shane Battier to Houston in Exchange for Forward Stromile Swift and Draft Rights to Rudy Gay|website=www.nba.com}} Gay averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 27.0 minutes in 78 games (43 starts) as a rookie. He earned NBA Rookie of the Month honors for November 2006, and went on to be selected to the 2006–07 All-Rookie First Team after placing fourth among first-year players in scoring, sixth in rebounding, fifth in steals (0.91), third in blocks (0.95), and fourth in minutes. He also finished third in the balloting for the 2006–07 Rookie of the Year Award behind winner Brandon Roy and runner-up Andrea Bargnani.

In 2007–08, Gay's second season, he set a Grizzlies' franchise record for points in a single season (1,632) and established a career-high for scoring average (20.1 points), becoming just the third player in franchise history to average 20 points per game (behind only Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Pau Gasol). He participated in the 2008 Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest, and finished runner-up to Hedo Türkoğlu for the 2007–08 NBA Most Improved Player Award. After his invitation to the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, Gay and YouTube teamed up for the Rudy Gay Slam Dunk Contest promotion, in which he asked fans to upload footage of their best dunks for him to attempt during the contest. During the contest, he performed a one-handed reverse clutch dunk in the first round, and during the second round, teammate Kyle Lowry alley-ooped the ball off the bar and from behind the backboard; Gay regathered and pulled off a windmill dunk. He ended with a score of 85 but did not advance to the second round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID8nFlQ6Oes|title=Rudy Gay - 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest|via=www.youtube.com}}

In 2008–09, Gay recorded 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.24 steals and 37.3 minutes in 79 games (78 starts). He made a baseline jumper as time expired in Memphis' home opener on October 31 against the Orlando Magic, giving the organization its first home-opening win since the 2000–01 season.

On December 13, 2009, Gay scored a career-high 41 points against the Miami Heat, tying Mike Miller's franchise record for points in a win.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2009/12/14/gay_helps_grizzlies_maul_heat/|title=Gay helps Grizzlies maul Heat|work=Boston.com|date=December 14, 2009|access-date=December 16, 2015}} In 2009–10, he ranked second on the team in scoring (19.6 points) in 39.7 minutes in 80 games (all starts). He finished the season tied for 18th in the NBA in scoring, 17th in steals and third in minutes.

On July 8, 2010, Gay re-signed with the Memphis Grizzlies to a five-year, $82 million contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/press-conference-at-fedexforum-100708.html|title=Grizzlies re-sign Rudy Gay to Multi-Year Contract|work=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=December 16, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/07/21/aldridge.2010.freeagency.archive/index.html|title=2010 Free Agent Watch Archive|work=NBA.com|date=August 3, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2015}} He emerged as one of the league's premier small forwards in 2010–11, posting career highs in seven major statistical categories before missing the final 23 regular-season games and all of the 2011 Playoffs due to a left shoulder subluxation sustained on February 15 against the Philadelphia 76ers.{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/rudy_gay_shoulder_surgery-110322.html|title=Rudy Gay to undergo shoulder surgery|work=NBA.com|date=March 22, 2011|access-date=December 16, 2015}} He recorded career highs for assists (2.8), steals (1.69), blocks (1.07), field goal percentage (.471), three-point field goal percentage (.396), free throw percentage (.805) and minutes (39.9). He also ranked second on the team in scoring (19.8 points) in 54 games (all starts). Gay watched from the sidelines as the Grizzlies defeated the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in a first round upset before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Gay passed Shane Battier (523) as the Grizzlies' all-time leader in steals on February 2, 2012, against the Atlanta Hawks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball/hawks-win-streak-ends-with-a-thud-at-home/nQQzM/|title=Hawks win streak ends with a thud at home}} In 2011–12, Gay led the Grizzlies in scoring (19.0 points) and minutes (37.3), and averaged a career-high in rebounding (6.4). He posted 2.3 assists and .455 shooting in 65 games (all starts) and ranked 17th in the NBA in scoring, 16th in steals (1.46), sixth in minutes, and seventh in dunks (110). He made his first postseason appearance in 2011–12, averaged a team-high 19.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on .421 shooting in 39.9 minutes in seven games against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2012 Western Conference Playoffs.

=Toronto Raptors (2013)=

File: Rudy Gay Raptors 2.jpg

On January 30, 2013, the Grizzlies traded Gay to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal that also included the Detroit Pistons.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8898673/rudy-gay-traded-raptors-grizzlies-6-player-deal-involving-pistons|title=Rudy Gay traded to Raptors|work=ESPN|date=January 30, 2013|access-date=September 15, 2021}} Gay set a franchise record by scoring 74 points in his first three games with the Raptors.{{cite web|title=Rudy Gay has recorded franchise-best 74...|url=https://twitter.com/RaptorsMR/status/299360781609365506|work=Twitter|date=February 6, 2013|access-date=December 16, 2015}} The Raptors finished the 2012–13 season with a 34–48 win–loss record and missed the playoffs. He became the first player to lead two teams in scoring in the same season since Stephon Marbury in 2003–04. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.73 steals and 34.7 minutes in 33 games (32 starts) with Toronto.

=Sacramento Kings (2013–2017)=

On December 9, 2013, the Raptors traded Gay, along with Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray, to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Greivis Vásquez, John Salmons, Chuck Hayes and Patrick Patterson.{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-acquire-rudy-gay-quincy-acy-and-aaron-gray-toronto|title=Kings Acquire Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray from Toronto|work=NBA.com|date=December 9, 2013|access-date=December 9, 2013}} On January 22, 2014, he tied his career high of 41 points in the Kings' 114–97 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR_VUyq3cHY|title=Rudy Gay Drops Career High 41 Points on the Pelicans|via=www.youtube.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/400489491|title=Kings 114-97 Pelicans (Jan 21, 2014) Game Recap|website=ESPN}}

On June 22, 2014, Gay exercised his $19.3 million contract option with the Kings for the 2014–15 season.{{Cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rudy-gay-to-exercise--19-3-million-contract-option-173427123.html|title=Sources: Rudy Gay to exercise $19.3 million contract option|date=June 22, 2014|website=Yahoo Sports}} On October 31, 2014, Gay scored 40 points in a 103–94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. On November 19, 2014, he signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the Kings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-sign-rudy-gay-to-contract-extension|title=Kings Sign Rudy Gay to Contract Extension|website=www.nba.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11886936/rudy-gay-sacramento-kings-agree-contract-extension|title=Sources: Gay, Kings reach 3-year extension|date=November 16, 2014|website=ESPN.com}} Gay appeared in just one of the Kings' final nine games of the 2014–15 season after experiencing headaches due to a concussion he received when he had a collision with his ex-teammate, Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies, on March 30. Gay had one of his best seasons in the NBA, averaging 21.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 68 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gayru01/gamelog/2015/|title=Rudy Gay 2014-15 Game Log|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}

On November 25, 2015, Gay scored a season-high 36 points in a 129–118 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[http://www.nba.com/games/20151125/SACMIL/gameinfo.html Gay scores 36 points, Kings beat Bucks 129-118] On December 15, 2015, he recorded 17 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and a career-high 6 steals in a 107–97 win over the Houston Rockets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/kings/blog/kings-win-third-straight-hou|title=Kings Win Third Straight|website=www.nba.com}}

On January 18, 2017, Gay sustained a full rupture of his left Achilles tendon in the Kings' 106–100 loss to the Indiana Pacers and subsequently missed the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/01/19/rudy-gay-ruptured-achilles-out-season|title=Kings forward Rudy Gay ruptured Achilles, out for season|work=NBA.com|date=January 19, 2017|access-date=January 19, 2017}}

=San Antonio Spurs (2017–2021)=

On July 6, 2017, Gay signed with the San Antonio Spurs.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-sign-rudy-gay|title=SPURS SIGN RUDY GAY|work=NBA.com|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=July 6, 2017}} On December 28, 2017, Gay suffered a right heel injury and was subsequently ruled out for at least two weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/12/29/spurs-rudy-gay-suffers-right-heel-injury-will-undergo-mri|title=San Antonio Spurs' Rudy Gay (heel) out at least two weeks|work=NBA.com|date=December 29, 2017|access-date=December 29, 2017}}

On July 11, 2018, Gay re-signed with the Spurs.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-re-sign-rudy-gay|title=SPURS RE-SIGN RUDY GAY|work=NBA.com|date=July 11, 2018|access-date=July 11, 2018}}{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Rob|title=Rudy Gay Reportedly Agrees to 2-Year Contract with Spurs After 3 Years on Kings|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2715235-rudy-gay-reportedly-agrees-to-2-year-contract-with-spurs-after-3-years-on-kings|access-date=November 2, 2020|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}} On October 29, 2018, Gay scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and recorded six steals in a 113–108 overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/9983683b451c4463ad5ed3b95896b746|title=DeRozan outduels Doncic, Spurs' beat Mavs in OT 113-108|date=October 30, 2018|website=AP News}} On December 5, Gay scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds during a 121–113 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401071045|title=Spurs 113-121 Lakers (Dec 5, 2018) Game Recap|website=ESPN}}

=Utah Jazz (2021–2023)=

On August 6, 2021, Gay signed with the Utah Jazz.{{cite web|author=utaafalk|title=Utah Jazz sign Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-rudy-gay-and-hassan-whiteside|website=NBA.com|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=August 6, 2021}} On December 29, Gay scored 21 points off the bench during a 120–105 win against the Portland Trail Blazers.{{cite web|title=Rudy Gobert and Rudy Gay combine for 43 as Utah Jazz beat Trail Blazers without injured Donovan Mitchell|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2021/12/29/rudy-gobert-rudy-gay/|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=December 29, 2021|access-date=December 29, 2021}}

On July 7, 2023, Gay and a conditional 2026 second-round pick were traded to the Atlanta Hawks for John Collins.{{cite news|title=Hawks Acquire Forward Rudy Gay and Conditional Second-Round Pick and Create a Trade Exception in Exchange for Forward John Collins|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/hawks-acquire-forward-rudy-gay-and-conditional-second-round-pick-and-create-a-trade-exception-in-exchange-for-forward-john-collins|website=NBA.com|date=July 7, 2023|access-date=July 8, 2023}} On July 12, he was traded once again to the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside TyTy Washington, Usman Garuba and a 2026 2nd round pick in exchange for Patty Mills{{cite web|title=Thunder Acquires Usman Garuba, Rudy Gay, Tyty Washington Jr. and 2026 Second-Round Draft Pick|url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-trade-230712|website=NBA.com|date=July 12, 2023|access-date=July 13, 2023}} and eight days later, he was waived by the Thunder.{{cite web|title=Thunder Signs Jack White|url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-white-230720|website=NBA.com|date=July 20, 2023|access-date=July 21, 2023}}

On September 28, 2023, Gay signed a one-year contract with the Golden State Warriors.{{cite web|title=Warriors Sign Six Players to Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors-sign-six-players-to-contracts-20230928|website=NBA.com|date=September 28, 2023|access-date=September 28, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Warriors, Rudy Gay agree to one-year contract|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38504914/warriors-rudy-gay-agree-one-year-contract|website=ESPN.com|date=September 27, 2023|access-date=September 27, 2023}} Gay was waived by the Warriors on October 20 as one of their final preseason roster moves.{{cite web|title=Warriors Waive Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder|url=https://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors-waive-rudy-gay-and-rodney-mcgruder-20231020|website=NBA.com|date=October 20, 2023|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

=Retirement=

On October 29, 2024, Gay announced his retirement from basketball through an article on The Players' Tribune.{{cite web|first=Rudy|last=Gay|title=If You Followed My Career, I’d Love For You to Read This|url=https://www.theplayerstribune.com/rudy-gay-nba-basketball-retirement-announcement|website=ThePlayersTribune.com|date=October 29, 2024|access-date=October 29, 2024}}

National team career

In 2010, Gay helped the United States win its first FIBA World Championship gold medal since 1994, averaging 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 13.4 minutes in nine games for the undefeated Americans.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/player/200752/rudy-gay/bio|title=Rudy Gay|website=NBA.com|access-date=January 1, 2022}} He was also a member of the national team in 2014 that collected the gold medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup after another undefeated campaign.

Career statistics

=NBA=

==Regular season==

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2006}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 78 || 43 || 27.0 || .422 || .364 || .727 || 4.5 || 1.3 || .9 || .9 || 10.8

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2007}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 81 || 81 || 37.0 || .461 || .346 || .785 || 6.2 || 2.0 || 1.4 || 1.0 || 20.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2008}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 79 || 78 || 37.3 || .453 || .351 || .767 || 5.5 || 1.7 || 1.2 || .7 || 18.9

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2009}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 80 || 80 || 39.7 || .466 || .327 || .752 || 5.9 || 1.9 || 1.5 || .8 || 19.6

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2010}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 54 || 54 || 39.9 || .471 || .396 || .805 || 6.2 || 2.8 || 1.7 || 1.1 || 19.8

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2011}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 65 || 65 || 37.3 || .455 || .312 || .791 || 6.4 || 2.3 || 1.5 || .8 || 19.0

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2012}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 42 || 42 || 36.7 || .408 || .310 || .776 || 5.9 || 2.6 || 1.3 || .7 || 17.2

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2012|nolink=y}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto

| 33 || 32 || 34.7 || .425 || .336 || .856 || 6.4 || 2.8 || 1.7 || .7 || 19.5

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2013}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto

| 18 || 18 || 35.5 || .388 || .373 || .773 || 7.4 || 2.2 || 1.6 || 1.3 || 19.4

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2013|nolink=y}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 55 || 55 || 34.4 || .482 || .312 || .836 || 5.5 || 3.1 || 1.2 || .6 || 20.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2014}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 68 || 67 || 35.4 || .455 || .359 || .858 || 5.9 || 3.7 || 1.0 || .6 || 21.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2015}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 70 || 70 || 34.0 || .463 || .344 || .780 || 6.5 || 1.7 || 1.4 || .7 || 17.2

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2016}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 30 || 30 || 33.8 || .455 || .372 || .855 || 6.3 || 2.7 || 1.5 || .9 || 18.7

| style="text-align:left;"| {{Nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio

| 57 || 6 || 21.6 || .471 || .314 || .772 || 5.1 || 1.3 || .8 || .7 || 11.5

| style="text-align:left;"| {{Nbay|2018}}

| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio

| 69 || 51 || 26.7 || .504 || .402 || .816 || 6.8 || 2.6 || .8 || .5 || 13.7

| style="text-align:left;"| {{Nbay|2019}}

| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio

| 67 || 5 || 21.8 || .466 || .336 || .882 || 5.4 || 1.7 || .5 || .5 || 10.8

| style="text-align:left;"| {{Nbay|2020}}

| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio

| 63 || 1 || 21.6 || .420 || .381 || .804 || 4.8 || 1.4 || .7 || .6 || 11.4

| style="text-align:left;"| {{Nbay|2021}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Utah

| 55 || 1 || 18.9 || .414 || .345 || .785 || 4.4 || 1.0 || .5 || .3 || 8.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2022}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Utah

| 56 || 0 || 14.6 || .380 || .254 || .857 || 2.9 || 1.0 || .3 || .3 || 5.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 1,120 || 779 || 30.9 || .452 || .346 || .799 || 5.6 || 2.0 || 1.1 || .7 || 15.8

==Playoffs==

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 7 || 7 || 39.9 || .421 || .211 || .825 || 6.6 || 1.4 || 1.3 || .3 || 19.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018

| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio

| 5 || 4 || 32.0 || .400 || .222 || .556 || 5.6 || 2.2 || 1.6 || .2 || 12.2

| align="left" | 2019

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 7 || 0 || 25.6 || .400 || .421 || .824 || 7.1 || 1.7 || .4 || .7 || 11.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 19 || 11 || 32.5 || .410 || .286 || .788 || 6.5 || 1.7 || 1.1 || .4 || 14.3

=College statistics=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05

| style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut

| 31 || 26 || 28.8 || .462 || .467 || .708 || 5.4 || 1.5 || .8 || 1.9 || 11.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06

| style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut

| 33 || 33 || 30.8 || .461 || .318 || .732 || 6.4 || 2.1 || 1.8 || 1.6 || 15.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:left;"| Career

| style="text-align:left;"|

| 64 || 59 || 29.8 || .461 || .378 || .721 || 5.9 || 1.8 || 1.3 || 1.7 || 13.6

Personal life

In 2010, Gay was named an ambassador for the Hoops for St. Jude fundraising program for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and donated $20,000 to the program, which allowed donors to pledge a set amount of dollars for each point scored by Gay and other participating NBA players.{{cite news|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/sports-business-rudy-gay-scores-hoops-for-st-jude-ep-392029404-323616951.html|title=Sports business: Rudy Gay scores 'Hoops for St. Jude'|first=Marlon W.|last=Morgan |work=The Commercial Appeal|date=February 26, 2010 |access-date=March 7, 2012}}

In April 2010, Gay was awarded the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for March in recognition of his service to the Memphis community, particularly his ongoing support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. As a result, a $5,000 donation was given by the NBA on behalf of Gay to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Gay, who wore number 22 with Memphis, personally donated $22,222 to the hospital.{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/13/grizzlies.gay/index.html|title=Gay receives NBA Cares Community Assist Award for March|work=NBA.com|date=April 13, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2015}}

In 2013, Gay married his longtime girlfriend Ecko Wray.{{Cite web|url=http://theballerlife.com/2013/08/13/rudy-gay-marries-fiancee-ecko-wray-in-aspen-colorado-photos/|title=Rudy Gay's Wife Ecko Wray [Photos - Pictures] | The Baller Life - BallerWives.com|date=August 13, 2013}} The couple have two children together.[https://playersbio.com/rudy-gay-wife-ecko-wray-is-a-proud-mom-of-two-kids/ Rudy Gay Wife Ecko Wray Is A Proud Mom Of Two Kids] He is a second cousin of NBA player Bub Carrington.{{Cite news|url=https://triblive.com/sports/behind-leading-scorer-blake-hinson-pitt-hoops-enters-season-with-a-standard-of-expectations/|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|title=Behind leading scorer Blake Hinson, Pitt hoops enters season with a standard of expectations|date=October 25, 2023|author=Gorman, Kevin}}

References

External links

[http://www.uconnhooplegends.com/menslegends/GayRudy.html uconnhooplegends.com profile]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140810083651/http://archive.usab.com/bios/gay_rudy.html USA Basketball profile]

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:2010 FIBA World Championship players

Category:2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup players

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:All-American college men's basketball players

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Baltimore

Category:FIBA Basketball World Cup–winning players