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Grizzlies glad to have Gay
Posted 12/6/2006 1:00 AM ET
By Vicki Michaelis, USA TODAY

For all those who think a player's first month in the NBA is all about bright lights and big cities, Memphis Grizzlies rookie Rudy Gay offers another version.

"It's been a lot of napping, a lot of dark hotel rooms with no light getting in," he says.

Gay and the Grizzlies opened with one of the NBA's most tiring schedules, playing back-to-back games six times in November. They also are without their superstar, forward Pau Gasol, who is out with a broken left foot until at least later this month.

Mix in uncertainty over the impending sale of the team and other injuries that have sidelined key contributors for spurts, and a team that was on the rise after making the playoffs the last three years is spiraling downward. The Grizzlies (4-13) have the NBA's worst record entering their game tonight at the Boston Celtics.

But in Gay they have one of the league's best rookies. Named the Western Conference rookie of the month for November, Gay ranks in the top six among rookies in scoring (fourth with 9.4 points a game), rebounds (sixth with 4.8 a game), blocked shots (tied for second with 0.94 a game), steals (tied for third with one a game) and minutes (fourth with 25.5 a game).

Gay's progression, as with many rookies, hasn't been steady. On some nights he has scored more than 20 points. On others, pinpoint passes have slipped through his fingers and his hurried shots have rattled the rim.

"He's had instances where he's showed great flashes of what he's going to be, and then he's had those rookie moments where he's out there like in a daze," Memphis guard Chucky Atkins says.

The Houston Rockets drafted Gay, 20, eighth overall out of Connecticut and then traded his draft rights along with Stromile Swift to Memphis for fan favorite Shane Battier. The exchange meant Gay would be looked upon to fill not only a spot on the roster but a void in the Grizzlies' community outreach. Battier, active in Memphis when he played there, is still is on advisory boards for the St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis and the Memphis Zoo.

"Rudy will make his own niche, he'll have his own identity," Memphis coach Mike Fratello says. "The community of Memphis will grow to love Rudy for what Rudy does for the franchise, for the organization. Shane was a special person, did a yeoman's job for us as a player.

"Rudy will make his imprints."

Gasol, the team's only All-Star, hurt his foot while playing for Spain in last summer's world championships. Trade speculation involving Gasol has circulated recently. If he were to leave, Gay would be a centerpiece for rebuilding.

For now, Gay is frustrated by the losses but not his playing time.

"It's definitely great to be in a situation where I can get a lot of minutes and just be one of the guys that actually go out there and compete with the team," he says. "Right now it's just taking advantage of my minutes. I have to do a better job of that."