Sacramento Kings Throwback Thursday: Rudy Gay

Welcome back to the next edition of Throwback Thursday here on A Royal Pain. Today’s edition belongs to former forward, Rudy Gay!

It is another edition of Throwback Thursday where the fans have voted for a recent Kings player to be the one we reminisce! After covering Isaiah Thomas’s tenure with the Kings last week, we will take a look back to former small forward, Rudy Gay.

Let’s get into it!

The Player

Born on August 17th, 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland, Rudy Gay played college ball at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). /

He eventually became the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, being selected by the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately, he never played for the Rockets. Throughout his career thus far, Gay has appeared for the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, and of course, the Sacramento Kings.

He decided not to return to the Kings for another year, but instead, he made the move to the San Antonio Spurs. Watching him under Gregg Popovich will be very entertaining, that’s for sure. Not to forget, he could potentially form a great partnership with Kawhi Leonard. Don’t sleep on Gay and Spurs this upcoming season!

The Numbers

Rudy has been a consistent scorer on a seasonal basis, especially because he hasn’t averaged less than 10 points per game in any year.

Career Averages (so far): 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 45% field goal shooting, 35% three point shooting, and 80% free-throw shooting.

Accolades


NBA All-Rookie First Team (2007) Consensus second-team All-American (2006) First-team All-Big East (2006) Big East Rookie of the Year (2005) Big East All-Rookie Team (2005) McDonald’s All-American (2004) First-team Parade All-American (2004)

The Wrap Up

SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 8: Rudy Gay /

Although Rudy is no longer a King, he was one of the team’s best players in recent memory. He was the focal point of the blockbuster trade with Toronto that brought him to Sacramento, and even though the Kings failed to make the playoffs in his Kings tenure, he sure has a positive future ahead of him.

The Spurs cashed on a solid and experienced veteran in Gay who could boost the team to a possible playoff match-up against the Golden State Warriors. All the best next season, Rudy!

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