During the summer, the Oklahoma City Thunder waived veteran forward Rudy Gay after he had been traded twice in less than a month, and it looked like perhaps the 37-year-old’s NBA career was over.
Last season, he had put up career lows in scoring, shooting percentage, rebounding and minutes per game, and it seemed like he had nothing left in the tank.
But just prior to the start of training camp, the Golden State Warriors brought him in and gave him a chance to make their opening night roster.
Gay seems grateful for the opportunity to continue his pro career on a team that could go deep in the playoffs to boot.
“I’ve been humbled so many times in my career, so it wasn’t nothing,” Gay told Andscape. “This is the first time. Hopefully, the last. But it’s one of those things that you come in there and show my work. At the end of the day, throw some s— at the wall and see if it sticks.
“I know I still have a lot to give, and I can help a team in this situation. I feel like it’s a pretty good situation.”
Just a few years ago, Gay was still a viable player who was averaging double figures in scoring with the San Antonio Spurs. While he has never made an All-Star team, he has eclipsed the 20 points a game mark in three seasons and has been a legitimate scoring threat for a number of teams.
He was originally the No. 8 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, and he was quickly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies along with Stromile Swift for Shane Battier.
In Golden State, Gay would be called upon for emergency depth, rather than as the key player he had been for many years. He could also play something of a leadership role by mentoring Jonathan Kuminga, a young forward who is thought to have plenty of potential but hasn’t tapped into it yet.
“I’m not the oldest person on a team for once,” Gay said. “To actually got into a locker room where I can hear some music that I can actually understand is refreshing. Today was Throwback Thursday. So, it was all my stuff. When you think of Throwback Thursday, we don’t think about Mary J. Blige, Usher. But, here, that’s what it is, man.
“I see why they’ve had so much success. Everybody knows their role. Everybody knows their position, down to the music. It’s refreshing… I knew this is a team that already had things figured out. So [I] just sit there, being ready for your turn and make the best of your opportunity at the end of the day. This is something I can teach my kids. I’ve been in every situation the league can offer. So, this is part of my story.”
After failing to defend their NBA championship last season, the Warriors opted to get older, not younger. They traded 24-year-old sharpshooter Jordan Poole, a key member of their championship team, for 38-year-old future Hall of Fame point guard. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the core that has won four rings together, are 35, 33, and 33 years of age, respectively.
It has made Gay feel good about being a member of the team — at least for now.
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