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Rudy Gay retires from NBA after 17 seasons with Grizzlies, Spurs, Kings and more | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Rudy Gay retires from NBA after 17 seasons with Grizzlies, Spurs, Kings and more | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 10: Rudy Gay #22 of the Utah Jazz dribbles against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on February 10, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Cole Burston/Getty Images

Rudy Gay's NBA career is over after 17 seasons and stints with five different teams.

The 38-year-old announced his retirement in an article The players' standAs he writes, he feels like “the luckiest man in the world,” despite everything he was able to do on the field and because he got to spend the rest of his life with his family.

Gay's last appearance in an NBA game was for the Utah Jazz on March 22, 2023.

It was during his two seasons in Connecticut from 2004 to 2006 that Gay first made his presence felt on the national radar. He was named Big East Rookie of the Year as a freshman and earned First Team All-American honors during his sophomore season.

UConn's title hopes in the 2005-06 season were dashed by George Mason's Cinderella run in the NCAA Tournament. Gay did everything in his power to get the Huskies to the Final Four with 20 points and six rebounds in 42 minutes, but Connecticut fell 86-84 in overtime.

Gay declared for the 2006 NBA draft and was selected number 8 overall by the Houston Rockets, who sold his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Grizzlies.

In the 2010–11 season, the Grizzlies won their first playoff series in franchise history, defeating the San Antonio Spurs with 61 wins in six games.

Midway through the 2012/13 season, Memphis Gay moved to the Toronto Raptors. At the beginning of the 2013/14 season he was transferred again to the Sacramento Kings, with whom he would play for the next four years.

Gay missed most of the 2016–17 season and the start of the 2017–18 season due to a torn Achilles tendon. He spent four years with the Spurs from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and then finished his career with the Jazz for two seasons.

The Golden State Warriors signed Gay to a one-year contract in September 2023. He averaged 2.0 points per game and 33.3 percent three-point shooting in two appearances before being released as part of final preseason roster cuts.

Gay appeared in 1,139 games in his career between the regular season and playoffs. He averaged 15.8 points on 45.2 percent shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

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