SOUTH FINLAND: The highly regarded NBA veteran Rudy Gay gives a very succinct account of his final season with the Utah Jazz
Gay told NBC Sports Bay Area on Wednesday, “It sucked.”
Gay is attempting to revive his career with the Warriors in that sense. To put it more succinctly, he’s seizing the chance to show the rebuilding Jazz that he’s more than just the team uncle he was the previous season.
Gay, who is aiming for his 18th NBA season, wants to return to the floor and play basketball.
However, he is aware that nothing is certain, even his one-year contract that he signed last week and his placement on the squad or in the rotation.
Gay states, “I have to demonstrate that I could be in the rotation.” And that’s okay with me. My ego was banished a long time ago. My age is 37 years. All that matters to me is winning a championship, coach.
Gay’s 6-foot-9, 250-pound frame and expertise drew the Warriors in. Early in his career, Gay was a big wing, but following surgery in January 2017 to heal a ruptured left Achilles tendon, he lost some of his peak athleticism. Nine months later, he was back in the game, but since then, he has largely been deployed as a power forward.
According to coach Steve Kerr, “Rudy’s been great.” “He appears well. His body is in good condition. He’s just skilled. He’s been in the league for a long time, so he’s familiar with everything that goes on. It’s clear that he is an extremely gifted and proficient player.
He’s a welcome addition to the camp. We’ll watch in the next weeks to see how it turns out.
Gay had other options, since some teams would have given him a quicker route to a roster place, but he was convinced by Golden State’s veteran squad, winning history, and short-term goals.
It’s an easy decision for him to join a team that is designed to win now, at his age, after playing infrequently on one that is at least a few years away from contending.
As a seasoned player on a club that is rebuilding, Gay remarks, “I’ve been a part of it too many times in my career.” “I’m just trying, and if I stay here, I’ll be fiercely competitive.” It is a long time to be in this business—eighteen years. On this team, I have a lot of men who are younger than me by more than ten years, and it was worse the previous season.
But this club does have my veterans, which is nice. Better music is played. It’s reviving. The Bay is also a fantastic location.
With the Warriors, who divide roles more along the lines of guards, wings, and “bigs” than by position, Gay would be positioned as a center and power forward. Although his career 3-point percentage is variable (34.6 percent, with five years over 37 percent and five below 32 percent), it’s unlikely that this will be highlighted.
He would play a character quite similar to David West from a few years back. Utilize pick-and-pop opportunities, establish screens, and read defenses.
There are three big men positioned in the rotation: Dario Sarić, Kevon Looney, and Draymond Green. Gay, 6-foot-8 rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis, and 6-foot-8 Usman Garuba are the remaining players. Garuba last week agreed to a two-way contract.
“All I want is to be a valuable member of this team who can accomplish a lot of great things,” Gay states. “Items that can make them successful. I wish to assist them in returning to the peak after they failed to reach that objective the previous year.
Gay may benefit from Draymond missing at least two preseason games. He is aware that this is his time. If he is successful in his mission, he will be introduced at Chase Center on opening night alongside the Warriors.