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Even if his elite athleticism does not return after his recovery from his Achilles tear, his improved shooting from deep (a solid 37.2% last season) and added bulk will allow him to be effective as a small-ball four. While Rudy might not particularly want to shift down a position, he will certainly be more effective as a stretch-four going forward on both ends of the floor. The same added strength that has helped Rudy to become more efficient on the offensive end has helped him to guard larger players on the defensive side of the ball. Although his Defensive Real Plus-Minus of 1.96 this season (eighth among small forwards) overstates his defensive impact, his above-average mark of 0.36 last season does at least signal a trend. That being said, Rudy did show positive signs on the defensive end this season should encourage any team looking to sign him this offseason. Despite playing for a defense-first team in Memphis and having all the tools needed to excel, Rudy often stood out for the Grit 'n' Grind Grizzlies as the one player who put all of his energy into his offensive play while slacking off on defense.
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His effort often waxed and waned, and quicker wing players often managed to find a way around Rudy on the way to the rim. However, Rudy often struggled to use his athleticism effectively on the defensive end. With a 7'3" wingspan and a 40.5" vertical leap measured at a 2006 NBA Pre-Draft Camp, Rudy's 12'2.5" maximum reach is one of the highest ever recorded and put him in an echelon usually reserved for the bounciest of big men. Rudy Gay had all the athletic tools to become an elite defender. As the secondary offensive option behind DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy kept the ball in motion far better than anyone could have expected after watching his purely isolation-scoring game in Toronto. Rudy averaged 3.1 assists during his partial 2013-14 year in Sacramento, and a solid 3.7 per game in his next season. In addition to his improved efficiency on offense, Rudy developed his playmaking skills during his time in Sacramento. Part of this was due to Rudy putting on some weight during his time in Sacramento that allowed him to bully smaller wings on his way to the rim instead of settling for fadeaway jump shots:
#RUDY GAY WINGSPAN FULL#
That jumped to 0.969 points per possession (in the 71st percentile) in his first season in Sacramento, and Rudy graded out as above-average on offense on a per-possession basis in each of his three full years as a King. He was even worse in his short stint in Toronto the next year, putting up just 0.803 points per possession which ranked in the 21st percentile. Rudy scored just 0.842 points per possession in his 2012-13 campaign in Memphis per Synergy Sports, which put him in the 32nd percentile league-wide. Despite his increased efficiency, Rudy averaged more points per game in the 2014-15 season than at any other time in his career.Įven though Rudy has always been able to put up points, he ate up far more possessions than he should have before joining the Kings. He then finished two of his next three years in Sacramento with a True Shooting percentage above that 55% mark that usually denotes a league-average shooter. However, he put up a 56.7% mark during his first 55 games in Sacramento. Rudy never managed to cobble together a True Shooting percentage above 55% in his first eight years in the league. That led to his eventual trade to Sacramento, where Rudy unexpectedly revitalized his offensive game. During his brief stint in Toronto, he devolved into one of the league's most notorious chuckers. Offense: Improved Efficiencyĭuring his days in Memphis, Rudy Gay was primarily an isolation scorer who would occasionally break out some massive dunks. His reputation as a chucker may continue to follow him, but Rudy could be a key contributor for a competitor next season. While Rudy reportedly had quite a lot to say about the Kings behind closed doors, he was a consummate teammate while in Sacramento. He improved his efficiency as a scorer while also taking on a larger playmaking role than he had in his previous two stops.
#RUDY GAY WINGSPAN FREE#
He will reportedly (per Adrian Wojnarowski) be meeting with teams in Austin, Texas once free agency begins.Īlthough Rudy was a polarizing player during his stints in Memphis and Toronto, he turned his play around during his three and a half years in Sacramento. Rudy opted out of the final year of his contract with the Kings. One player who will not be courted by the Kings is Rudy Gay. With free agency starting, the Kings will have a number of targets with their massive piles of cap space.