Rudy Gay is calling it a career.
After 17 seasons successful nan NBA, which included stints pinch nan Grizzlies, Spurs, Jazz and Raptors, nan 38-year-old Brooklyn autochthonal announced his status successful The Players’ Tribune connected Tuesday.
“Eighteen years successful nan league,” wrote Gay, who was progressive but did not play for a squad past season. “Learned from immoderate of nan champion to ever do it. Made immoderate unthinkable lifelong friends. Feeling good. Healthy. Inspired. Have a family that loves me, and who I emotion much than anything.
“I’m not conscionable OK. It’s like…. I’m nan luckiest man successful nan world.”
Born successful Crown Heights successful 1986, Gay played 2 seasons astatine UConn earlier declaring for nan NBA Draft.
The Rockets selected Gay pinch nan eighth wide prime successful 2006 and past promptly traded to nan Memphis Grizzlies for Shane Battier.
Gay averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and astir 1 bargain per game— earning a spot connected nan 2006-07 All Rookie squad and finishing 3rd successful Rookie of nan Year voting.
Gay’s stat-line improved complete his ensuing six-and-a-half seasons pinch Memphis earlier nan franchise dealt him to Toronto successful January 2023.
The guardant spent little than 1 almanac twelvemonth pinch nan Raptors earlier he was flipped to nan Kings.
During his first afloat play successful Sacramento, Gay averaged a profession champion successful points (21.1) and assists (3.7) per game.
Gay was traded to nan Spurs successful 2017-18, his property 31 season, and past nan Jazz successful 2021-22, his property 35 season.
His 2022-23 run successful Utah was nan first successful his profession during which he didn’t commencement a azygous contest. And though Gay signed a statement pinch nan Golden State Warriors nan pursuing summer, he was waived soon earlier nan play began.
Across his 17 seasons, Gay competed successful 1,120 profession games and logged 778 starts; he averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
“I needed to humble myself and beryllium like: ‘Look, this is over,'” Gay wrote successful The Players’ Tribune. “But really coming to grips pinch it being over, that’s … a process. One I’m honestly still dealing with, and struggle pinch astatine times…
“I’m 38 years old. That’s obscurity moreover adjacent mid-career for astir people’s master lives. So, nan measurement I spot it, I’ve sewage a batch of activity up of me. … In nan meantime, I’m conscionable emotion highly grateful for each nan love, wisdom, and relationship that I’ve knowledgeable successful nan crippled of basketball.”