Rudy Gay took exception to a comment from Tony Allen about the nature of the “Grit and Grind” nickname for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies have been known as a “Grit and Grind” team, which has described their style of play since Allen joined the squad in 2010-11. The name arose after Allen said they beat the Thunder in a 2011 game thanks to “all heart. Grit. Grind.”
Allen also said that the nickname arose because they had to do extra that game to make up for other players, like Gay, sitting it out. Allen made his comments on Friday at a Basketball Hall of Fame event. Here’s Allen’s full quote, via Tom Westerholm of MassLive.com.
“I was so upset with Rudy for not playing … I end up having 27 points, eight rebonds and like five steals. Mind you, I hadn’t played in 22-some-odd games, and this is to let you know how in shape I was. Durant had like 35, but they lost. When they gave me my interview, the first thing I said was, ‘It’s just all heart. Grit and grind.’ That’s how that phrase blossomed in Memphis. I was still upset. That was really a jab at Rudy Gay. But he’s my man today, I’ve forgiven him for that. But yeah, that’s where it started at in Memphis.”
Even though Allen said he forgave Gay and that “he’s my man,” Gay wasn’t amused.
Gay saw a snippet of the comment on Hoops Hype — not the full comment — and seemed upset on Twitter. Here’s what Gay wrote Saturday.
Pot calling the kettle black pic.twitter.com/7Sw1kMJzL3
— Rudy Gay (@RudyGay) August 5, 2017
Maybe if Gay had seen the whole quote he wouldn’t have been as upset. But his point about Allen is applicable. Since playing 79 games in 2012-13, Allen has topped out with 71 games played last season, and he tends to miss games often.
