(Gay’s been giving him been there, done that advice on how to recover from a torn Achilles’ tendon.)
He’s made more than $130 million and is considered a locker-room leader in the wild world of pro sports, even to guys who aren’t his teammates, like his friend Kevin Durant. “Attached at the hip with my agent,” he said, taking yet another look at the device, “seeing what’s going on.”īy nightfall, he’d agree to a new two-year deal to stay with the San Antonio Spurs, worth $32 million, a life-changing amount for most of us, but just another contract for an established name like himself. The iPhone Gay cradled in his right hand illuminated with text-messages. In a gym across the hall, 16 teenage boys were about to play in the championship game of his brainchild, a high school-aged basketball tournament organized through his charitable foundation. With legs outstretched as one with a six-foot-nine body is inclined to prefer, he was here for one thing. And Rudy Gay, the Baltimore native and 13-year pro basketball veteran due for a new contract, sat on a red plastic chair in an air-conditioned classroom on the tony campus of Park School, the century-old private pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade establishment in the suburban Pikesville hills just north of the city line.
on a hot Sunday afternoon, only about four hours until the official opening of the NBA’s free agency signing period-when players not under contract can decide which team they want to head to next. He is a good fit for the Americans because he can swing between both forward spots, which would have been filled by Durant and Paul George, who broke his right leg last week.It was near 2 p.m. The 6-foot-8 Gay averaged 20 points last season for Toronto and Sacramento. "I can't wait to join my teammates in Chicago and work hard to make certain the USA takes home the gold in Spain." "I am extremely excited to once again be part of Team USA and its rich tradition," Gay said. The Americans resume practice Thursday in Chicago, with the World Cup of Basketball set to begin on Aug. He also was one of the last cuts made by the 2012 Olympic team. Gay, the Sacramento Kings forward, appeared in all nine games for the Americans in the 2010 world championship, averaging 7.0 points off the bench. He has a lot of equity in the USA Basketball national team." "Rudy has been an integral member of USA Basketball since 2005 and was a tremendous contributor to our 2010 world championship team. "We both felt he would be a valuable addition because of his outstanding skills and the fact that he is so familiar with USA Basketball and our national team program," Colangelo said Friday in a statement. USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo received a call Thursday night, shortly after Kevin Durant pulled out, and was told that Gay was available if he and coach Mike Krzyzewski were interested.
national basketball team has added Rudy Gay, who helped them win a gold medal four years ago and asked to rejoin the team following a series of player withdrawals.