“Pot calling the kettle black,” Gay tweeted on Aug. Gay, who recently signed with the San Antonio Spurs, took exception to Allen’s view. After all, Gay had come to be viewed as the opposite of grit and grind, even as it became a phrase, a slogan for T-shirts and a civic movement. That was really a jab at Rudy Gay.”Īll these years later, most Grizzlies fans have no problem with TA saying he was taking a shot at Rudy Gay back then. Grit and grind.’ That’s how that phrase blossomed in Memphis. “When they gave me my interview, the first thing I said was, ‘It’s just heart. “I was so upset with Rudy for not playing,” Allen told. The Grizzlies, however, were without Rudy Gay that night – the Grizzlies player at the time considered most able to get his own shot. This was back in February of 2011, when the Thunder had not just Russell Westbrook but also Kevin Durant and James Harden. (AP File Photo/Lance Murphey)Īllen, of course, spoke the phrase into being after an improbable Grizzlies win at Oklahoma City in which he scored 27 points with five steals and three blocks. Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay (22) hugs teammate Tony Allen after stopping a shot by the San Antonio Spurs in overtime during an NBA basketball game Jan.
