Rudy Gay is retiring after 17 NBA seasons, the veteran announced Tuesday.
Gay, 38, last played in the 2022-23 season for the Utah Jazz. He signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors last summer but was waived shortly before the season.
“I had to humble myself and be like, ‘Look, this is over,’ Gay wrote in a piece for The Players’ Tribune on tuesday “But actually realizing it was overthat is … a process. One I’m honestly still dealing with, and sometimes struggling with. I’ll still watch games and see some of these guys miss a pass or fumble the ball out of bounds, and I’m absolutely that guy yelling at the TV like, ‘I’m better than that clown. Are you kidding me?!?!?’ It’s not pretty.
“I’m 38 years old. That’s nowhere 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 great grateful for all the love, wisdom and friendship I’ve experienced in the game of basketball.”
After starring at UConn, Gay was selected with the number 8 pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and a few weeks later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Gay spent much of his career with the Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings and averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds across 1,120 career games (778 starts). He also spent time with the Toronto Raptors and, most recently, the Jazz.
“I am the luckiest man in the world,” Gay wrote.
