Rumors

The inconveniences of playing in Canada have been echoed publicly by ex-Raptors Lou Williams and Rudy Gay. But is the issue more widespread? Temple, who’s also the vice president of NBA players’ association, acknowledged he’s heard the complaints from other players and the union has raised it with relevant authorities within the league. If there’s a way to make the process a little more seamless, they will try to make it happen. “Let’s be clear: it’s the U.S. (customs) that’s making it take long, it’s not Canadian borders,” he said. “But in the grand scheme of things, it’s nothing to deter somebody from coming here.”

Toronto Star

Tom Orsborn: Pop placed a phone call to Rudy Gay on Tuesday after he announced his retirement after 17 seasons, including 4 w/ Spurs. "He's a sweet man and had a good long career," Pop said. "Great teammate. Everybody loved him. Always had a smile, great sense of humor. He was a good pro."

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From there, it was years of learning from some of the best. There were so many players who were kind enough to pass along some of their expertise. Way too many to name. But I’ll always be grateful to Mike Miller for showing me how to put in work. How to hone your craft through consistent and focused training. Mike was a maniac with that stuff, and if you were around him enough you couldn’t help but to have it rub off. Patty Mills and Manu Ginobili were two other guys I absolutely loved. They’re both tireless competitors, and Patty is literally the most optimistic, positive person I’ve ever met. Darrell Arthur, too, another Memphis guy. Did all the little things, the dirty work. He had a huge impact on me. Then there’s Chris Paul, my friend and also one of the most competitive people I have ever met. I remember us not talking for years over a playoff series! And Kyle Lowry. Kyle is one of my best friends in the entire world, going all the way back to middle school. So, it was awesome to be able to suit up and play in NBA games with Kyle.

The Players' Tribune

But actually coming to grips with it being over, that’s … a process. One I’m honestly still dealing with, and struggle with at times. I’ll still be watching games and see some of these guys missing a pass or fumbling the ball out of bounds, and I absolutely am that dude yelling at the TV like: “I’m better than that clown. Are you kidding me?!?!?” It’s not pretty.   But, at the same time, look…. I’m 38 years old. That’s nowhere even near mid-career for most people’s professional lives. So, the way I see it, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. I just need to figure out what exactly that means. Maybe it’s public speaking, or media, or business. We’re gonna see. I have a contracting company, a real estate company. I have the PickUp USA Fitness gym in Towson, Maryland. There are a bunch of things I’ve already begun devoting some time to. Now it’s just a matter of finding one big new thing that I love, and then throwing my energy into it.

The Players' Tribune

So, play continues, but at the other end someone knocks the ball out of bounds or something, and there’s a stoppage. I walk over to Kobe like, “Kob! Kob? You alright?”  Nothing.  He’s just swaying back and forth now. It’s crazy. Just swaying in place. Eyes looking off in the distance somewhere.  Next possession, we’re on offense again, and there’s a foul. OK, enough! I’m standing right next to him at the foul line. Like, I gotta see if Kobe can hear!   “Kob. Kob! Kob!!! Are you OK, man?” A second passes. Then another. Then…. He turns his head in my direction. And he looks at me. Blank stare.  “Kob, I know I got you with the shoulder a little bit. Are you OK?” A few more seconds pass. Like awkward, awkward seconds. Then he looks straight into my soul with those eyes of his, and, real slow and pronounced, he says…. “Don’t    you    ever …………….. ask me ……….. am I OK.” It was the coldest cold-blooded thing ever. 

The Players' Tribune

And then….  He didn’t say another word. We just went back to the game. It was the middle of the third quarter or so. And, as you can probably guess, Kobe roasted us after that. Dude scored 24 points after it happened. He hit three threes in the final two minutes of the game to send it to overtime. And then, in OT, of course…. The Lakers got the win.   An hour later, he’s on SportsCenter or whatever, and they’re asking him about all those points he scored at the end, and he’s literally like, “Yeah … I mean … Rudy Gay asked me if I was OK. So……..”  Then he smiles this sly little smile.   I’m just shaking my head watching that like: You know what … in retrospect … maybe I shouldn’t have asked him if he was OK. Lesson learned.  Kobe taught me all about focus that day. About how, even though they call it a game, hoops isn’t really “a game” if you’re trying to be the best player in the world.

The Players' Tribune

Shams Charania: After 17 NBA seasons, Rudy Gay is retiring. Gay, the No. 8 pick in the 2006 Draft out of UConn, averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds across 1,120 career games for the Grizzlies, Raptors, Kings, Spurs and Jazz.

Twitter

"LeBron James and Bronny James have been the talk of the town. Why is nepotism such a big deal when LeBron made sure that his son was drafted? RUDY GAY: I don’t know, man. I’ve talked to a lot of people about it, and I see no problem with it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to help their kids out? If that’s the case, I think he’ll be a good pro. I think he’s going to have a good career, but you know, everybody needs a push every now and then."

YouTube

Marc Stein: Dāvis Bertāns has been invited to work out for the Warriors as Golden State determines whether to extend a training camp invite to the Latvian sharpshooter, league sources tell @TheSteinLine . Rudy Gay earned a Warriors training camp invite last season after similar auditions.

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Chris Herrington: Mike Miller, Tayshaun Prince, Darrell Arthur joining Rudy Gay. Beno Udrih, Jon Leuer and Quincy Pondexter among the former Marc Gasol teammates in the house. Dave Joerger also here.

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Paul George moved up from No. 89 to No. 87 in the scoring all-time list after passing Rudy Gay, Rolando Blackman

HoopsHype

Is there anybody in the league specifically that you call upon when you’re feeling low and need someone to talk to? DeMar DeRozan: A good friend of mine is [Utah Jazz forward] Rudy Gay. I always call him, sometimes even if it's about nothing specific—it's more so just to talk, laugh, escape, and get lost in a conversation with him. He's definitely one of my close friends.

menshealth.com

Clutch Points: Lou Williams: "Klay Thompson is nowhere to be found!... Draymond Green should get that framed." Rudy Gay: "I just hope nobody asks [Rudy Gobert] to sign that picture." Lou Will and Rudy react to the Warriors-Timberwolves fight 🤣 (via @RunItBackFDTV) pic.twitter.com/AARKditomr

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Shams Charania: The Golden State Warriors are releasing Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater . This trims Warriors’ standard deals to 13 players, giving extra roster/financial flexibility, and they will add the 14th spot within first two weeks of season.

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