Although he was able to get back on the court last season after tearing his Achilles during the 2016/17 campaign, Rudy Gay never seemed to be fully at 100%. He was nagged by Achilles and heel issues, appearing in just 57 games in his first season for the Spurs.
Having re-signed with San Antonio though, Gay is feeling better as the 2018/19 season approaches, telling Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News that “everything is clicking” and that he feels “athletic again.”
Gay spoke a little more about his health and also touched on several other Spurs-related topics in his conversation with Orsborn, so let’s round up a few highlights from the veteran forward…
On his offseason workouts:
“I’ve been working hard, man. I lost about five pounds. Last year was a little bit of a struggle for me, so I tried to alleviate that by taking the weight off my feet by losing a couple of pounds through working out and eating better. It’s now or never right now for me.”
On how DeMar DeRozan, unhappy about being traded by the Raptors, will fit right in with the Spurs:
“That’s the thing about this whole team – everybody has a chip on his shoulder. His is just more publicized. But, look, I’m healthy (and have something to prove), LaMarcus (Aldridge) always finds someway to have a chip on his shoulder. Jakob (Poeltl) wants to prove he can be a great player. DJ (Dejounte Murray) has a chip on his shoulder because he wants to be known as one of the best at his position.
“I think we have a great mix of guys, a great basketball team. (Spurs GM) R.C. (Buford) put together a great team. It will be fun to watch.”
On his quick decision to re-sign with the Spurs in free agency:
“I always knew I wanted to come back. When I opted out, I felt like I had options. But the best option was to just stay where I was at.”
On modest expectations for the Spurs, who have an over/under of 43.5 wins on the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas:
“Nobody expects us to be good. I don’t know why. … Why were we expected to be so much better last year? Because Kawhi (Leonard) may have come back? He didn’t, and we were still a playoff team, really a couple of wins away from being a third or fourth seed in the West.
“They don’t have many expectations for us. But the Spurs always exceed the expectations. Don’t expect anything less this year.”
Rudy, glad you resigned with the Spurs … with you, Aldridge, DeRozan, Gasol and Murray, we will do ok
They’ll be the fourth seed
1. GSW 2. Utah 3. Houston 4. Spurs
Let me fix that for you bud
1. GSW
2. Houston
3. OKC
4. SA
Nah more like
1. Golden State
2. New orleans
3. Utah
4. OKC
I honestly believe houston will fall off
Murray will be phenomenal, DeRozan will be DeRozan but Murray will make a case for most improved player. I can easily see him averaging 17-19 ppg with 7-8 apg this coming year.
It’s tough for Spurs PG’s to get assists in that team with the offensive style of passing they conduct. If be impressed if he can pull off 5-6 per game.
17-19 ppg is a lot. Lets see where hes at by December. I think he will avg about 12-14ppg / 5-6 reb / 3-5 assists.
Sorry guys I cannot see them in playoffs this year, they will get a good draft pick though.
what are you smoking thinking they aren’t making the playoffs, cause I definitely want some.
Dude…theyre making the playoffs….i think Kyle leaving wont really affect them. Also they were without Kawahi for all but 9 games…and theyre adding in Derozan. 7-8th seed at worst. 5-6 seed best.
I have a feeling Popp does his best coaching job ever and pulls off a top 2/3 seed, and wins a playoff round or 2 or 3 as well.