Veteran Forward Rudy Gay Calls it Quits After 17 NBA Seasons

After a remarkable career spanning 17 seasons and successful stints with five different teams, Rudy Gay has announced his retirement from professional basketball.

Gay announced his retirement in an open letter he wrote on The Player’s Tribune, saying that he feels like “the luckiest guy in the world” for his accomplishments on the court but had to accept the reality that it was time retire.

“I’m just feeling extremely grateful for all the love, wisdom, and friendship that I’ve experienced in the game of basketball,” Gay said. “Eighteen years in the league. Learned from some of the best to ever do it.”

Gay, 38, last played in the league for the Utah Jazz in 2022-23. He signed with the Golden State Warriors in September 2023 but was waived prior to the start of last season.

Gay was selected by the Houston Rockets with the eighth overall pick in 2006 and then promptly traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies for Shane Battier. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds — earning a spot on the 2006-07 All-Rookie team and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting.

A quiet leader, Gay averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds a game over 1,120 career games, with a high of 21.1 points in 2014-15 with the Kings. He spent much of his career bouncing between teams that were rebuilding, and through the second half of his career battled a number of injuries.

Gay also represented the U.S. twice at the FIBA World Cup, helping the Americans capture gold in 2010 and 2014.

Gay was a McDonald’s All-American and highly-touted recruit coming out of high school. He played two seasons for the UConn Huskies (2004–2006) under coach Jim Calhoun.