Monday, October 3rd, 2011 at 2:14 pm  |  91 responses

Top 50: Rudy Gay, no. 26

The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.

by David Cassilo / @dcassilo

One of the hardest things for an athlete to come to terms with is that a team can win without him. Last season, Rudy Gay learned just that while watching his Memphis Grizzlies upset the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the Playoffs.

Nobody is saying that the Grizzlies are a better team without Gay, but as Memphis looks to build on its historic season, it will be Gay’s job to fit in and keep the good times rolling.

Fresh off signing a five-year, $82 million contract with the Grizzlies in July, Rudy Gay looked like a strong return on investment last season, averaging career highs in every major statistical category except points per game. But an injury to the shoulder on Gay’s non-shooting arm cut his season short in February.

What seemed like a blow to any Playoff chances Memphis had turned out to be anything but. As Gay watched from the sidelines, Sam Young and Shane Battier filled in admirably and Memphis went 15-10 to finish the regular season with its young star out of the lineup.

Gay, who will be fully healthy to start next season, now must hope he doesn’t disrupt the team’s chemistry from last season’s Playoff run when he returns. If his comeback goes smoothly, Memphis should be able to take another step forward as it will be adding an All-Star-caliber player to the team that upset San Antonio.

Since taking off in his second season in the NBA, Gay has been a model of consistency. Over the last four seasons he’s averaged between 18.9 and 20.1 ppg each season and between 5.6 and 6.2 rpg.

Gay’s first return to game action since suffering his injury came on Sept. 21, when he tallied 17 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in an Impact Basketball game.

On October 1, he played in Chris Paul’s exhibition charity game. While the defense leaves something to be desired in these games, it was still a promising sign that Gay finished with 38 points.

Slotting in a healthy Gay to the lineup could make Memphis a legitimate contender for the Western Conference title next season. While the team is deep with Battier, Young, O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen to play the wing positions, Gay’s offensive potential is much higher than any of the other four.

While Gay’s numbers are strong, the consensus around the League is that he has barely scraped his potential. He is still just 25 years old, and one of the highest-ranked players on this list never to have made an All-Star game.

Everything points to this year being the one where he makes the team. This is the best supporting cast that Gay has ever had. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol will take the attention off Gay, and Mike Conley Jr’s progression will only help Gay increase his scoring.

While Gay missed out on last season’s run, he can be the reason the team goes further in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. An exciting and young team, the Grizzlies are poised for success, and Gay, the longest-tenured of the starting five, can appreciate it the most after many years of meaningless basketball.

SLAMonline Top 50 Players 2011
Rank Player Team Position Pos. Rank
50 Luol Deng Bulls SF 8
49 Andrew Bogut Bucks C 7
48 Ray Allen Celtics SG 9
47 Marc Gasol Grizzlies C 6
46 David West Hornets PF 15
45 Kevin Martin Rockets SG 8
44 Andrew Bynum Lakers C 5
43 Brandon Jennings Bucks PG 11
42 Lamar Odom Lakers PF 14
41 Gerald Wallace Blazers SF 7
40 Brook Lopez Nets C 4
39 Joakim Noah Bulls C 3
38 Carlos Boozer Bulls PF 13
37 Kevin Garnett Celtics PF 12
36 Eric Gordon Clippers SG 7
35 Tony Parker Spurs PG 10
34 Andre Iguodala 76ers SG 6
33 Al Jefferson Jazz PF 11
32 Al Horford Hawks C 2
31 Stephen Curry Warriors PG 9
30 Tim Duncan Spurs PF 10
29 Josh Smith Hawks PF 9
28 Manu Ginobili Spurs SG 5
27 Tyreke Evans Kings PG 8
26 Rudy Gay Grizzlies SF 6

Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ’11-12 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Maurice Bobb, Shannon Booher, David Cassilo, Bryan Crawford, Sandy Dover, Adam Figman, Jon Jaques, Eldon Khorshidi, Ryne Nelson, Doobie Okon, Ben Osborne, Quinn Peterson, Dave Schnur, Abe Schwadron, Dan Shapiro, Irv Soonachan, Todd Spehr, Tzvi Twersky, Yaron Weitzman, DeMarco Williams and Ben York.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.

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  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    in the 2 games Memphis won against Oklahoma City, OJ Mayo played 39 and 41 minutes. He only played over 30 minutes in 2 other games, game 4 (triple overtime), and game 7. Even if it is Rocket Science to figure out what “position” he was getting beat out at. (Tony Allen was guarding the opposing teams 1 or 3 at ALL times, and offensively is as much of a shooting guard as Eric Snow) He was still clearly the best perimeter player on the Grizzlies on both sides of the court in the playoffs.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Well, to be fair, that terrible offensive player is also a brilliant defensive player.
    He was my personal choice for DPOY.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    What are you trying to prove here Taylor?

  • ctkennedy

    Rudy skillset u can argue is better than Kevin Durant …hes missin something i just dont know what it is

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I couldn’t argue that. Or know any way too.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    That Mayo is overrated and shouldn’t be anywhere near this list.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    ctkennedy… get outta here with that. Durantula is a top tier Elite player. Gay imo never will be in that top tier elite superstar level. Not that he doesn’t have a chance, but Durant is already there. And Durant is younger I believe. Gay has a real good shot. Durant has an Elite shot. Gay is a good rebounder. Durant is slightly better. Neither are special passers. At this point though Kevin is the one that has shown to be elite. Taylor, common, you honestly would take all these players listed in the top 50 over OJ Mayo? You sleeping.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    ctkennedy, you are seriously sleeping on KD, since you seem to think both Tyreke Evans and Rudy Gay are/will be better/as good as him.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Yes, expect for BJennings. I would even take Boooooozer over him and everyone knows how I feel about him.
    Remember this list is about next season’s expectations not what they did last year or two seasons back. The expectations for Mayo is that he has to battle 2 other players for one spot and most likely will not be the starter on opening day.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    He is not on the list Taylor. He may be overrated by some people, but I don’t see what your problem is.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    I don’t have a problem with OJ, I was just replying when someone questioned why Mayo’s not on the list.
    What I do have a problem with is lowering the standard for a former Top-3 pick and acting like he had a successful season after failing to beat out Tony Allen for a starting spot.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Well his role got switched on him. idk if you watch summer league, but they were (before they extended Conley) contemplating making OJ a PG, but they weren’t sure if he could run the position from a creating off the dribble standpoint (and there were supposedly some concerns about whether or not he could guard the position). That and Gay came out so red hot that it seemed like Memphis would be better served with scoring off the bench because their 2nd unit was among the weakest in the league. They didn’t switch OJ to a reserve role because he was the worse player or anything like that.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    The thing is we all know James Harden is a better player than Thabo Sefelloshaahh. But we all understand why he starts also. Now Harden has become so good that he is going to shove him outta the starting spot most likely. I think OJ will bump TA (the best perimeter defender in the L) outta the starting spot also. Because he is wayyy better than TA when factoring in both sides of the floor. I don’t think OJ ahould be anywhere higher than 45. But I would have liked to have seen him in the Top 50 because from my perspective he is a top 50 Player in the L.

  • ctkennedy

    i dont think Gay got it n him to be great…but he damn sho got the skills n he a better athlete than KD …i think KD love the game more n has more the will to be great…Gay has always been missin the drive to me back to his UCONN days

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Durant doesn’t need crazy athleticism. He has a 7’5″ wingspan or something rediculous like that. And he has Elite scoring skills. Why do you think that scrawny kid scores so much on everybody. He is the MMA equivilent of Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. He’s just to long.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Pause.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    @ nbk: What exactly makes Danny Granger better than Kevin Martin?

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    JHarden despite being the #3 pick, has never been a starter. On the other hand, Mayo was the starting 2 for the first two seasons of his career (avg. 38mpg), so for him to all of a sudden lose his spot to TA points to more than Memphis wanting to shore up its bench.
    Anyone with a keen eye knows he digressed last season (from mid-range, 3pt line and FT line). Now, could he regain his rookie and sophomore form? Sure but I’m going off last season.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    I was trying to figure out how to word that one Enig and just decided to go with it. And then you gotta go and call me out on it! Common! You better than that! (Mark Jackson voice)

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    And i’m going off next season Taylor.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Nah, there’s really no way to word it without it instigating a sophomoric “pause” from a bored, nothing better to do worker like me. Ha ha my bad.

  • http://Slamonline.coM nbk

    Defense Teddy. Although you could make an argument for him. I could also see a logical argument for Luol Deng. But IMO DG is the better player

  • AirForceONE

    How is Rudy Gay any better than Loul Deng? Loul Deng is a defensive stopper and is very duriable. Rudy Gay isnt the best defender, has injuries, and is very hot and cold with his jumper. In my opinion, Rudy Gay should be ranked in the 41-38 range. I wouldnt trade Loul Deng, Eric Gordon, or Josh Smith straight up for Rudy Gay. Gay has only averaged more than 20.0 points per game in one (20.2 ppg) of his five NBA seasons. This guy has some sick highlights but he doesn’t create for teammates (1.9 assist per game for his career) and in my opinion he is overrated.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    @AirForceONE – I’m a huge Deng fan, but I’d put Rudy Gay ahead of him.
    For one, you really can’t knock Gay for being injured last year and call Deng “durable” when he only played in 182 regular season games out of a possible 246 in the three seasons prior to last season.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Lake, so you could see the future now? If that’s the case, why not tell me whether the stock market rebounds this week, what are the likelihood of me having a threesome with Palin and her daughter and when the world’s going to end?

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    JTaylor, just come chill up here with me in Wasilla, and make sure you bring a Glen Rice Michigan jersey with you.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Well…that and some black face paint.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    I need to know which daughter…. Details man. DETAILS!

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Also, maybe some blow smuggled in a 55 pound drum to get the party started.
    Lake, the one with boulders between her shoulders.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    If Chicago called Memphis and said they wanted to trade Deng for Gay straight up, Memphis would hang up instantly. If the reverse call was made Passing would cream his pants.
    That is what makes Rudy Gay a better player.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Passing?

  • BuzzerBeater

    Regarding OJ Mayo being on the bench, it’s not because he was beat out by anyone for the starting lineup – it’s that the coach left him there as the main scoring option coming off the bench, much like Ben Gordon did.

  • http://Slamonline.coM nbk

    Echo

  • http://360special.blogspot.com/ dev0

    will be much higher next season. would have been much higher this season if not for the injury

  • sam

    OJ Mayo has a lot of potential, he is going to bounce back and have a breakout season. To me he is every bit as good as any young sg.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Max

    I love Gay!
    He’s a beast on 2K also

  • RetrOhh

    Reeeeeal off topic .. But my boy Jamal Crawford aint making the list :(
    Damn … That dudes the hottest thing comin off a bench yo ! ha BookThat

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Paxson. autocorrect.

  • http://Www.fiba.com Darksaber

    I actually preferred ‘passing’, Allen.
    Amusing.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Passing has been known to cream his pants every now and then…

  • http://slamonline 3kings

    good player. Really improved his game and may take it to an all star level

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