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Greatest Memphis Grizzlies Of All-Time: Rudy Gay

By Chris Kern

MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 20: Rudy Gay #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots a game-winning shot over LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat on November 20, 2010 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 20: Rudy Gay #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots a game-winning shot over LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat on November 20, 2010 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Rudy Gay was a key part of the Memphis Grizzlies success. They weren’t anywhere near the same team after they traded him.

Rudy Gay was an exciting young talent who had a very impressive run with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies made a huge mistake by trading him away. They have been searching for a wing like him ever since they dealt him.

If they never traded him they would’ve had even more success during the grit and grind era. Gay was a key player on this team. His scoring ability was a huge part of a team that focused on the defense.

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His dominating performances earned him the 6th spot on our top-25 ranking. If the Grizzlies never made the mistake of trading him he could’ve earned a spot in the top five while also helping the Grizzlies to more deep playoff runs.

His Time In Memphis

Rudy Gay was a scoring machine during his time with the Grizzlies. He averaged 17.9 points per game over the seven seasons which he played for the team. That includes his rookie season where he averaged 10.8 so if you take that away he was a 19 point per game scorer.

He was only a part of one playoff series though over his seven seasons which was a seven-game series loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. He averaged 19 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during that series.

His injuries are one of the reasons the Grizzlies traded him. He missed the 2011 playoffs due to injury and they lost a seven-game series in the conference semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The injuries aren’t the only reason he was traded though. There’s no way they would’ve dealt him if they didn’t think it would improve the team. They have been way wrong. They’ve needed a scorer like him at the wing spot ever since he left. They signed Chandler Parsons to fill that void but that has turned out to be a terrible signing.

The shot over LeBron James was easily Rudy’s biggest moment with the franchise, and the way the Rudy treated that moment with was great. He knew that this Grizzlies team was great when many didn’t.

A lot of people don’t understand how truly dominant he was on the offensive end. He was a difference maker for the Grizzlies. The franchises past five years would be completely different with Rudy Gay on board.

This team had a couple year span before Golden State got really good where they could’ve competed for a championship. Trading Gay away kept that from happening and the Grizzlies, to this day, still haven’t found a worthy replacement.

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