Gay takes aim at Team USA
MEMPHIS, August 12, 2010 - After successfully completing the USA men’s National Team training camp in Las Vegas three weeks ago, Memphis Grizzlies swingman Rudy Gay is ready for the next challenge that lies ahead of him. He realizes he is one step closer to achieving a goal he set out for himself long ago; the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2010 World Championships which will occur Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kayseri Turkey. Gay made it through the first set of cuts and is in New York this week competing with the other 15 remaining players as USA Basketball officials will make three more cuts by the week’s end to complete its 12 man roster.
“I feel like one part of the war is over but the next one is beginning,” Gay said last Friday in between a break while taking part in a 2010-11 Grizzlies commercial shoot.
The 6-8 forward who re-signed with Memphis earlier this summer, commented that this year’s mini-camp was one in which he was able to take plenty away from.
“I learned a lot from Coach K,” Gay said. “He’s a great coach and you know he teaches me different aspects of the game. You always learn new things no matter how old you are and I feel like every time I go compete with different players I learn more stuff.”
Gay listed that his most enjoyable part of this summer’s mini-camp experience was being able to play against college basketball’s elite prospects such as UCONN’s Kimball Walker, Duke’s duo of Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler to go along with several others.
“Going against the college guys, they were so hyped up,” he said. “You know in the NBA, guys are older and it takes them a little while to warm up. Once they unleashed those college guys they were ready to run us out of the gym.”
The former UCONN star, who also participated in the mini-camp last summer, mentioned that this summer’s version of the camp was far more competitive since every player was out to earn a spot on the final roster to compete in the World Championships, whereas last summer, that wasn’t the case as the players primarily participated to prepare so they’d be ready for this summer. He also stated that because of his experience participating last summer, this time around he didn’t have any nerves rushing through him.
“Last year, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Gay remarked. “But this year, I was just trying to be comfortable and see how I fit in with the USA team. Defensively, we picked up and not just with me. I think we all picked up our intensity knowing that last year, it was just a mini-camp but this time, we were going to defend our country. So now, no matter what, you still have to get better; and we got better.”
Over the past two summers while participating in the mini-camp, it has also given Gay the opportunity to partake in the annual Blue-White USA Basketball Showcase Game. In both the 2009 game and one in 2010 (which just took place last month) Gay has displayed why he is considered one of the rising stars in the NBA. In that 2009 game he led all scorers with a game-high 27 points while shooting an almost perfect 11-12 from the floor. This year in the scrimmage Gay proved that last year’s performance wasn’t a fluke as he posted 25 points and shot 7-11 from the field. Both years the Showcase game was held at UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center; an arena in which Gay has obviously, seemed to shine.
“Maybe, I should just think from now on, that every game I play in that I’m playing in the Thomas and Mack Center and I’ll play a little better,” Gay said with a laugh.
While Gay has excelled thus far during the Team USA process, his teammate, Grizzlies third-year guard O.J. Mayo received disappointing news as he was one of the four players cut following the mini-camp (even though Mayo too, put together an impressive stat line for the Blue team during the scrimmage finishing with 18 points and seven boards). Gay mentioned that he hadn’t spoken with his teammate since the cuts were announced but noted that he assumed Mayo would take a vacation and that if he were in Mayo’s position that’s what he would do.
“He’s (O.J.) a competitor,” Gay said. “He’s someone that I’ve played with on a day-to-day basis and he’s somebody that I’d want to be with (on the USA team). Being that he’s not going to be their now, it’s going to be tougher but you know this is an experience that I definitely want to make and I know he wanted to make it just as well. I wish he was still there with me but I still have to work to get to where I want to be.”
No. 22 also commented that it’s been a joy throughout the entire USA experience being able to practice and compete against his longtime friend and fellow Maryland native, Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant.
“I think, we both make each other better,” Gay said of the 2009-10 NBA scoring champion. “We played against each other a lot growing up. He knows my game and I know his. He’s a great player and when I go out there I just have to let him know that I’m a great player too. He has a great team in Oklahoma City and he’s becoming a great leader and that’s something I want to do here in Memphis.”
During the upcoming days this week in New York, Gay stated that the only goal currently on his mind is to make the final roster.
“Right now, its USA season for me,” Gay said. “Once the Grizzlies season starts then I’ll have a different set of goals but right now it’s only USA season.”
And, if he is to be one of the final 12 selected to the National Team roster that will compete in the 2010 World Championships later this month Gay said it would be an unforgettable honor.
“It’s definitely one of the things I’ve wanted to accomplish,” he said. “Not just the 2010 (USA) roster, but the 2012 Olympics. This would be a good start for that. I’m just going to try and show my versatility and give it my all. I think that’s what it’s about. Giving it your all, playing for your country and at the end of the day he’s going to pick who he wants to pick but I definitely, want to make a case for myself.”
Before leaving for the World Championships the USA National Team is scheduled to play four exhibition games against France, Lithuania, Spain and Greece which will all take place at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The first exhibition game is set for Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. (ET) versus France.
