Why does no one talk about Rudy Gay?

[Scoe]

35 and still playing at a high level for a contender and nobody cares. Is it because he didn’t win a National championship and because his last game against that team that shall remain nameless.

I’m just curious on everyone’s thoughts. I understand he’s so talented everyone expected Rudy to be a superstar.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Not to sidetrack this thread but it's also incredible that the current NBA scoring leader is 37 years old and in his 19th season. I believe his current PPG is more than double the second highest scoring average by a 19 year vet.

 

[Scoe]

Not to sidetrack this thread but it's also incredible that the current NBA scoring leader is 37 years old and in his 19th season. I believe his current PPG is more than double the second highest scoring average by a 19 year vet.

Continuing to evolve in a young mans game, Brady like longevity.

 

[Hi-Low]

I think maybe becasuse Rudy has played in Western conference for awhile so don't see him much....had some great years in Memphis for sure.

After his bad knee injury 5 or 6 years ago has become mostly a part time player on Spurs & now Jazz...can still be effective though.

 

[storrsroars]

35 and still playing at a high level for a contender and nobody cares. Is it because he didn’t win a National championship

Pretty much. Also just never cared for the guy that much. Talented, but I never saw him as a true blue UConn great like Allen, Rip, KEA, Gordon, Okafor, Butler, before him.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

35 and still playing at a high level for a contender and nobody cares. Is it because he didn’t win a National championship and because his last game against that team that shall remain nameless.

I’m just curious on everyone’s thoughts. I understand he’s so talented everyone expected Rudy to be a superstar.

My Rudy Gay opinion
If God decided to create the perfect basketball player and provide them the skills to succeed in that sport, if Rudy was not the finished product he was close enough.
That being said other people besides me noticed and the expectations for his success where almost beyond what was achievable except by a select few. So coming up short he was forever unjustly tagged with the reputation of under achiever. However when you rationally view his accomplishments he was a pretty elite. Offensive player.

 

[auror]

In 15 NBA seasons, he's never been on a team that won a playoff series.

So he just hasn't really been relevant to the broader NBA discussion.

That and we all try to collectively forget about '06.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

That and we all try to collectively forget about '06.

I have Waquoit's post teed up for him, I just want him to post it first.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Pretty much. Also just never cared for the guy that much. Talented, but I never saw him as a true blue UConn great like Allen, Rip, KEA, Gordon, Okafor, Butler, before him.

Not a big Gay guy?

 

[karstenkibbe]

In 15 NBA seasons, he's never been on a team that won a playoff series.

So he just hasn't really been relevant to the broader NBA discussion.

That and we all try to collectively forget about '06.

I actually think many UConn fans start with trying to forget about ‘05 first… and that’s where the Rudy indifference starts. That team clawed back from 10 down with four minutes left against NC State, only to see Julius Hodge beat Rudy off the dribble five seconds left. We all know how that ended. It wasn’t good and Rudy was the easiest scapegoat. The ‘06 ending and his short-ish stay in Storrs I think only compounded the indifference.

Rudy has actually had a pretty remarkable NBA career, despite injuries. He also happens to bleed blue. He just isn’t as loud about it as some of our other guys. Has the Huskies court at his (somewhat gaudy) house and he’s shown up to NBA games in UConn apparel. He is a pretty quiet and private guy, which means he flies under most fans’ radars in the world we live in today.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Not a big Gay guy?

RIP Rick Majerus

 

[storrsroars]

Not a big Gay guy?

Well played.

20 years ago I would've replied with dozens of witty retorts. I don't dare try these days.

 

[Waquoit]

I have Waquoit's post teed up for him, I just want him to post it first.

I was gonna say I find his NBA career to be a bit of a yawn.

 

[Huskybass]

In 15 NBA seasons, he's never been on a team that won a playoff series.

So he just hasn't really been relevant to the broader NBA discussion.

That and we all try to collectively forget about '06.

Amazing that despite being a pretty elite scorer in his prime, Gay has only played in 19 playoff games total in 15 seasons. Clifford Ralph Robinson played in 141 playoff games over his 18 year career.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

 

[Scoe]

When I saw Rudy stepping onto the court for the first time I said this guy is a finished product how is he not in the NBA right now(at the time), I thought I was watching the next NBA superstar, yes unfair expectations but it was very hard not to think that way, and NBA fans thought the same thing.

Maybe because Rudy was an NBA ready player his first UConn game, you never really felt that connection with him, that you would with most college players who need time to develop. Glad I’m not a UK fan imagine feeling the way you felt about Rudy with 5 guys every year.

Glad to see him being in winning environments now after the Achilles injury. Feel he has reinvented himself a bit. Hopefully he keeps latching onto title contenders.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Well played.

20 years ago I would've replied with dozens of witty retorts. I don't dare try these days.

was waiting for someone to post the Steve Lavin, Rick Majerus video

 

[Kembacity]

Didn’t Florida just try to make it illegal to talk about Rudy Gay?

 

[Dove]

35 and still playing at a high level for a contender and nobody cares. Is it because he didn’t win a National championship and because his last game against that team that shall remain nameless.

I’m just curious on everyone’s thoughts. I understand he’s so talented everyone expected Rudy to be a superstar.

Floridians can't talk about him. Sad times.

 

[storrsroars]

So you never were a “big Gay guy?”

(Sorry, but somebody was going to say it eventually.)

Somebody already did.

Funny thing is I didn't remember the reference, because I never talk about Rudy Gay

 

[CL82]

Somebody already did.

Funny thing is I didn't remember the reference, because I never talk about Rudy Gay

Damn it!

 

[TheChamps990411]

Amazing that despite being a pretty elite scorer in his prime, Gay has only played in 19 playoff games total in 15 seasons. Clifford Ralph Robinson played in 141 playoff games over his 18 year career.

Elite scorer? He averaged 18ppg over the first 10 years of his career. That is not an "elite scorer" by NBA standards. I liked RG but ive seen very few guys do so little with so much. One of the more forgettable star players we`ve had here.

 

[Deleted at users request]

All the skill and talent but one of the main things Calhoun would hammer to him is being more aggressive. His heart and motor never seemed to click.

Now if Andre Jackson can develop some of the skill Rudy Gad we could have something. Kid has a nonstop motor.

 

[CTBasketball]

The BY is a weird place. Rudy was a 2nd team All-America, 4-2 record in the NCAA’s, but still gets no love.

 

[Huskybass]

Elite scorer? He averaged 18ppg over the first 10 years of his career. That is not an "elite scorer" by NBA standards. I liked RG but ive seen very few guys do so little with so much. One of the more forgettable star players we`ve had here.

He averaged over 20 points a game 4 times and over 19 ppg 9 times. He averaged over 17 ppg in 14 straight seasons. Outside of Ray Allen, I doubt any former Husky has been that productive offensively.

 

[cordeodato]

Took two of my boys to a game when Rudy was playing. He spoke with my kids for a
bit and couldn't have been nicer. Have always had a soft spot for Rudy since then,
Great smile too.

 

[August_West]

Simple. Rudy was here only 2 years. The only comparison there is Caron. Caron carried UConn during down seasons as an underrated recruit, Rudy was part of 2 of the 3 worst UConn NCAA losses as a top 3 recruit in country, nor did he put up numbers commiserate with his talent.

Great kid and great player. Just was simply not transcendent in his time here.

 

[Palatine]

Rudy has quietly earned about 170 million playing basketball.

He was a great player. As an NBA player he was never on a great team.

 

[August_West]

Rudy has quietly earned about 170 million playing basketball.

He was a great player. As an NBA player he was never on a great team.

In college if 2006 won title (instead of George Mason) that team is remembered as one of greatest teams of all time.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Simple. Rudy was here only 2 years. The only comparison there is Caron. Caron carried UConn during down seasons as an underrated recruit, Rudy was part of 2 of the 3 worst UConn NCAA losses as a top 3 recruit in country, nor did he put up numbers commiserate with his talent.

Great kid and great player. Just was simply not transcendent in his time here.

'Rudy was here only 2 years. The only comparison there is Caron'
only? what aboot james?
rudy, 14/6/2 assists per. 38% on 3s, 9 winshares. ncaa all region, consensus AA, lots of hardware. 8th pick.
james, 15/5/2 assists. 32% on 3s, 5 winshares. all aac, all big east. 11th pick.
caron, 18/8/3, 36% on 3s, 9 winshares. all big east, big east tourney mvp. 10th pick.

the highlighted portions are code for doing it when it really matters.
clearly, rudy was pretty great here, and now his footprint in the nba career numbers for 'top 100' is impressive. thanks dude.