So regardless of the opponent or the score, he wasn't about to let a loose ball go - even if he might regret it in the morning. Gay said that after a season filled with some lingering pain following offseason heel surgery, he felt he was back to a point where he could contribute and play in the way he has grown accustomed to over the course of his long NBA career. He came here because he wants to win and that's what he showed." "He's diving on the floor for loose balls it's good to see. To be a vet like that - we've discussed that he will be situational, those situations are there - for him to step in and be ready and play with the emotion and the energy," Snyder said. He scored 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds, and had one memorable dive to the floor. On Tuesday, though, he played 13 minutes in Utah's win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and then played 26 minutes against the Thunder. Afterward, he refused a media request he knew the questions that were coming. On Monday, he participated in a spirited one-on-one session with Jared Butler, Eric Paschall, Hassan Whiteside, Nikeil Alexander-Walker and Zavier Sneed. To his credit, Gay kept his mentor role up at practice. I am just here to help where I can I'll do whatever I can to be a part of things and compete. "He told me what he felt like at that point," Gay said of the conversation. For a player that came to Utah with hopes of being a key contributor to a championship contender, that wasn't the greatest news. Juancho Hernangomez had played himself into the rotation, which meant Gay wouldn't always play. In a meeting with Jazz coach Quin Snyder, he was told he would be used on a situational basis. Last week, Gay was dealt another blow in an already difficult season. But for Gay, the game was far from a formality it provided a chance to find his rhythm again, and, maybe most importantly, to play. The Jazz beat the Thunder 137-101 in a game Oklahoma City wanted to lose, and Utah played enough of their guys to get a win.
![rudy gay ad rudy gay ad](https://www.nba.com/spurs/sites/spurs/files/getty-images-931654558.jpg)
I'll let you guys know how I am feeling tomorrow." I immediately thought to myself, 'What the hell are you doing?' as soon as I lunged out. It's been a while since I've been able to get a rhythm and actually feel like part of the game. "It's been a while since I've been in the game. "At that point, I didn't care what the score was," Gay said of the play. In the fourth quarter of a game where the Jazz held a 29-point lead, Gay dove to the floor after a loose ball. Edward A.SALT LAKE CITY - Rudy Gay was already flying to the ground when the thought, "What are you doing?" entered his mind. If all that translates to the NBA, could be primed for a consistent role in the Spurs’ backcourt next season. Showed good basketball IQ, a versatile scoring game and above-average athleticism in the G-League.
![rudy gay ad rudy gay ad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/04/10/article-2127679-1289305B000005DC-280_1024x615_large.jpg)
Going forward: The 2017 first-round draft pick played in only 17 games as a rookie, but starred for the Spurs’ G-League affiliate in Austin. Ornelas /Staff photographer Show More Show Less 23 of29 Derrick White, GĬontract status: 3 years, $7.1 million (non-guaranteed)
![rudy gay ad rudy gay ad](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/rudy-gay-1.jpg)
The former All-Star is more of a bench piece now. Barring a trade, will return next season. He did see a small rise in assists and rebounds. He averaged a career-low 10.1 points, but of greater concern was a shooting percentage that also fell to a career-low level (45.8 percent) and further erosion on the defensive end. Going forward: Age seemed to gain further ground on Gasol last season, though he did provide value in certain matchups. Contract status: 2 years, $32.8 million (partially guaranteed in 2019-2020).