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- Jun 24, 2005
Rudy Gay woke up one day and had a heart-to-heart with himself.
He decided it was time to make a change. Gay thought he could give a lot more of himself and become a better teammate.
And the soul-searching led Gay to ask his longtime girlfriend, Ecko Wray, for her hand in marriage.
"It's time for me to take control of my life," Gay said. "It's not just about basketball. It's about me personally, too."
So while the basketball universe looks at the Grizzlies' 6-8 small forward and sees a player ready to soar to new heights, Gay couldn't be more grounded.
To say the 26-year-old is settled might be an understatement. There is no date yet for the nuptials with the woman he's dated since 2004, but Gay passionately states that he is "ready." He's also clearly geared up to make his seventh NBA season his best.
The Griz are off to a franchise-best 6-1 start with Gay one of the main catalysts. Entering Friday night's game against the New York Knicks, Gay leads the Griz with 20.7 points per game.
His versatile scoring hardly captures the imagination of onlookers anymore. It's Gay's maturation, which clearly extends beyond his life choices, that is most noticeable.
He's become more of a playmaker, averaging five assists in wins against Oklahoma City and Miami. He's playing harder on defense, and filling up the statistical report the way coach Lionel Hollins says Gay's talents dictates.
The Griz have longed for Gay to affect winning beyond his effortless scoring, and he's making a conscious effort to do just that.
"There were times when a lot of things I did were spiteful," Gay said. "Maybe I would try to shoot my way out of a slump. I always felt like I could out-jump people, outshoot someone. One thing I'm learning is to be tactical and know when it's time to be that person. … I feel like I've changed a lot of people's perspective of me. I'm doing just enough. I'm doing things within the confines of the team. I really just came into the season thinking how am I going to help the team?"
If there is anyone who objects to this marriage on the court, speak now or forever hold your peace. The man presiding over Gay's evolution is eager to proceed.
Hollins is giving Gay more freedom with the ball. Hollins remains demanding yet cognizant of the need to feed the man who can get his shot anywhere on the floor. Gay took over the win at Oklahoma City when it became a six-point game. He made an array of jump shots over Kevin Durant's reach and seemingly helpless defense.
"He was hot and we just kept giving him the ball," Hollins said of Gay. "I told Rudy he was going to stay on the floor as long as he could."
Gay contends that Hollins has learned how to use him. Hollins would say Gay has earned his trust. The truth likely lies in the middle, with general manager Chris Wallace's assessment.
"Rudy's maturity is intersecting with his physical gifts," Wallace said. "He's maturing and emerging as a player right before our eyes. And he's got a great combination of youth and experience."
Still, the perception of Gay is that his talent is behind that of Durant and LeBron James. But Gay makes a valid point: Those players flourish in different situations and have the same challenges guarding him as he does with them. Yet Gay, who is routinely criticized for playing matador defense, matched Durant and James on both ends of the court this week.
"On another team I might have to do other things — the things that people compare me to those guys," Gay said. "But not on this team. If I went out there and had the ball in my hands for five straight possessions, I'd take away from Zach (Randolph), Marc (Gasol) and Mike (Conley). That's not how we're going to win. I want to win.
"I'm trying to play with a clear mind. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be. The Come to Jesus moment for me was just me saying if you want to win how can I make this team better? But it's not just me. We all have that mentality now."
Gay clearly has found love and his best basketball.
"Everything is planned out for women," Gay said. "For a man, it's just like I'm ready."
at Rudy