After spending 17 seasons in the NBA, Rudy Gay has announced his retirement from basketball. The 6-8 small forward averaged 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and two assists per game on 45 percent shooting.
Gay announced the news via a post to ‘X’ with a link to an article in the Players’ Tribune, where he reflects on pivotal moments and relationships encountered during his time in the league.
Born in Brooklyn, New York with high school ties to Baltimore County in Maryland, Gay attended UConn from 2004-2006 before being drafted in the first round by the Houston Rockets with the eighth pick.
As a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, Gay was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2007, played in the FIBA World Cup in Turkey in 2010 and Spain in 2014, winning gold with both teams.
Gay played for five teams in his 18 seasons, spending seven with the Grizzlies, one season with the Toronto Raptors, four with the Sacramento Kings, four with the San Antonio Spurs and two with the Utah Jazz. In his four years spent in Sacramento, Gay averaged over 19.3 points, six rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in four seasons in Sacramento.
He had signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors last summer but was waived before the season.
In his two years spent in Toronto, Gay averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Gay was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2004 along with First-team Parade All-American and was Big East Rookie of the Year at UConn.
(Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
