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