Rudy Gay to miss 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk Competition
Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images
Forward sits out last three contests before All-Star Break due to hip flexor injury
Memphis, February 11, 2008 – Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay will not participate in the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk Competition on NBA All-Star Saturday Night Feb. 14 in Phoenix due to a left hip flexor strain, which has kept him out of the Grizzlies last two wins and will also force him to miss tonight’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Gay will be replaced by J.R. Smith of the Denver Nuggets.
Gay finished fourth in last year’s dunk contest and was set to make his third consecutive All-Star Weekend appearance. The 22-year-old tallied 20 points as a member of the winning sophomore team in the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge in New Orleans and led the rookie squad with 22 points in the 2007 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge in Las Vegas.
The 6-8, 230-pound forward ranks second on the club in scoring (18.8) and rebounding (5.7), and leads the team in steals (career-high 1.41) in his third NBA season.
The Grizzlies will be represented at NBA All-Star Weekend by rookies O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol, who were named to the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam to be held on Friday, Feb. 13 in Phoenix at 8 p.m. Mayo will also be part of the field for the H-O-R-S-E competition during All-Star Saturday night.