Veteran NBA forward Rudy Gay has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball after an illustrious 17-season career.
Gay, 38, last played in the 2022-23 season for the Utah Jazz. He signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2023 but was waived before the season began, leaving him a free agent since then.
Reflecting on his career, Gay shared his thoughts in a heartfelt piece for The Players’ Tribune. “I needed to humble myself and be like: ‘Look, this is over,’” Gay wrote. “But actually coming to grips with it being over, that’s … a process. One I’m honestly still dealing with, and struggle with at times. I’ll still be watching games and see some of these guys missing a pass or fumbling the ball out of bounds, and I absolutely am that dude yelling at the TV like: ‘I’m better than that clown. Are you kidding me???’ It’s not pretty.”
Gay was selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets out of the University of Connecticut but was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies shortly after. He made an immediate impact, earning a spot on the All-Rookie team in his debut season. Over his career, he played for the Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz.
In his 17 seasons, Gay averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds across 1,120 career games (778 starts). He ranks fifth in points, fourth in minutes played, and fourth in games played in Grizzlies history. Notably, he is one of only four players to average 10 or more points per game from the 2006-07 season to the 2020-21 season, alongside Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and LeBron James.
Despite never making an All-Star team, Gay’s consistency and versatility made him a valuable player throughout his career. He expressed gratitude for his journey, stating, “I’m 38 years old. That’s nowhere even near mid-career for most people’s professional lives. So, the way I see it, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. … In the meantime, I’m just feeling extremely grateful for all the love, wisdom, and friendship that I’ve experienced in the game of basketball.”
As he steps away from the court, Gay looks forward to new challenges and opportunities. “Maybe it’s public speaking, or media, or business. We’re gonna see. I have a contracting company, a real estate company. I have the PickUp USA Fitness gym in Towson, Maryland. There are a bunch of things I’ve already begun devoting some time to. Now it’s just a matter of finding one big new thing that I love, and then throwing my energy into it.”
Rudy Gay’s retirement marks the end of an era for a player who has left an indelible mark on the NBA. His contributions on and off the court will be remembered by fans and peers alike.