The Kings have not been in the playoffs since 2006. It was one of those downs where I was like, ‘I’m not going to let this happen again.’ ”įrustrated with the losing and rebuilding, Gay opted out of his contract with the Kings that would have paid $14 million during the 2017-18 season. “I was down this time of year before because I wanted to play in the playoffs. “I was in my boot and I was at a local sports bar around my house thinking about what I could be doing, how I could be healthy and how I could be in the playoffs the next year,” the 31-year-old Gay said. Today, he is realizing what he envisioned as a starting forward for the San Antonio Spurs. While watching the opening day of the 2017 NBA playoffs at a sports bar near his offseason home in South Florida, Gay daydreamed about a return to the postseason. And to make matters more challenging, Gay was recovering from a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. His chances of returning to the postseason were bleak if he remained with the Sacramento Kings. This is all trying to get in a rhythm so we can be our best by then.OAKLAND, California - Rudy Gay had amassed just seven career playoff games in 11 NBA seasons. Just trying to make a long run in these playoffs. “I feel pretty good going into the later part of the season. Gay, despite seemingly everything going wrong so far with his Jazz tenure, remains hopeful still that it will all work out - for him individually, and then, by extension, for the team as well. Rudy’s obviously someone we feel like can really impact the game for us.” “… Getting him out there is important to us. “I feel about Rudy the way I do about our team: as he plays more, he’ll continue to be able to give us more,” said Snyder. Snyder is trying to get him some extra run as the season winds down. And there’s a reason why, when the Jazz have gone small, their defense has cratered to 30th out of 30 teams.Īnd so there’s a reason why, long after all the other rotation guys were on the bench in the Jazz’s long-out-of-hand victory over the depleted and tanking Blazers on March 9, Gay was still on the court. And so, there’s a reason why he hasn’t felt like a natural fit on offense.
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Gay’s offseason heel surgery put him behind - he said he had to “learn how to walk again” - and he’s been playing catch-up ever since. And I don’t think my body could take it, either.”Īnd so, what drives him these days is simple. I don’t have to kill myself every night!” he joked. “Do I feel I could do more on this team? Probably. His game has matured, his game has gotten so much better.” He’d rather make plays and shoot 3s and use his size.
But he’ll tell you he doesn’t really want to do that as much anymore. “I remember I would just throw the ball anywhere up in the air and he’d probably touch the top of the backboard and just get it. As you get older, you don’t do the same things you used to,” said Conley. 18, 2021.Ĭonley, who’s had his own on-court struggles over the past month or so, noted that accepting the inevitability of change and being flexible as a result is something he and Gay have in common at this point.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah forward Rudy Gay (8) shoots a 3-pointer for the Jazz, in NBA action between Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors, at Vivint Arena, in Salt Lake City, on Thursday, Nov. Then-Jazz forward Joe Ingles’ appearance on JJ Redick’s podcast was invoked, in which Ingles claimed that perhaps 90% of the players in the NBA were unhappy with their roles. I know what I can do, I know what I bring - I want to be the best at that.” But also, how are you gonna assert yourself on a team? I don’t ever want to compete with anybody on my team. “A lot of that is being realistic with yourself. But if you want to stick around and be here … if you want longevity, you’ve got to be able to perform different roles, be able to do different things,” Gay said. “My career, up until San Antonio, I had the ball in my hands most of the game. Tucker, Rajon Rondo, Paul Millsap - from the 2006 draft class. That said, he explained there’s a reason why he’s still around alongside a select few others - Kyle Lowry, LaMarcus Aldridge, P.J. He’s long since removed from his time as a high-flying, ball-dominant wing who was the star of his team. Gay’s game looks a little different these days, too. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay (8) reacts after scoring and getting fouled, in NBA action between the Utah Jazz and the Washington Wizards, at Vivint Arena on Saturday, Dec.