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Sacramento Kings Report Card: Rudy Gay

By Tyler Watts

Nov 23, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Golden 1 Center. The Kings beat the Thunder 116-101. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Golden 1 Center. The Kings beat the Thunder 116-101. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 27, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles the ball against Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs won the game 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles the ball against Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs won the game 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /

DEFENSE: Grade- B+

Rudy Gay once again brought it on the defensive end in 2016-2017.  Gay averaged 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 2.6 personal fouls per game in his 30 games this season.  The blocks per game were his most per game in 6 seasons, and he improved his steal rate in each of his three seasons with Sacramento.  Gay has always been a good defender, and the statistics bore that out this season.

Let us switch over and view some advanced metrics (All advanced metrics courtesy of Basketball-Reference) to see how they rated Rudy Gay’s defense.  If you consider defensive box score plus/minus, Gay earned positive 0.4 or his best in his tenure with the Kings.  He, also, was a positive 1.0 defensive win share.  Gay rated as a positive on the defensive end of the floor.

MUST READ: Improving Kings’ Defense is the Key to a Quick Turnaround 

Gay brings a lot of defensive versatility to Sacramento, and that went a long way in earning his B+ grade.  Gay can guard just about any player on the court and still produce both traditional and advance statistics.  That is big positive for the Kings or any team Rudy Gay plays for in the future.

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