GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 2, 2023

Rudy Gay

Media Conference

Q. What led to your road to the Warriors? Being a free agent, you could have looked at other teams and probably had some other feelers out there but how did you end up here and what was the reason why you wanted to be here at this time?

RUDY GAY: Just culture, man. Me knowing a lot of the players. Played on two World Championships with Steph and one with Klay. Chris has been a friend of mine for years. Draymond, we've been friendly for a while. And you know, just the culture here, coming here and playing; the fans, the city. You know, it's just time. It's time to -- you know I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career at this time for me to -- you know, for that one goal and this is a culture that you have that.

Q. What's it like for you as you mentioned to Monty, your veteran experience and what you can bring to the table and what's it going to be like playing with this roster because it's a pretty different roster in a lot of ways than what the Warriors had last season.

RUDY GAY: This is my experience, knowing what this team needs, this team is already set with what they have. I'm not a young player trying to prove myself. I'm just trying to win.

We know what we have. For the most part, the team knows what I can bring. So hopefully it will be a good transition.

Q. For most of your career, you're a bucket-getter, like 20 points a game. How do you make that transition to where you slowly realize that's not your role and you have to do other things to contribute to the team?

RUDY GAY: Well, I mean, injuries did it for me. But it's just life, man. Life. Longevity. I was always a firm believer of trying to learn different traits all the time and you know, when life hits you, you have to learn how to pivot. No pun intended, you know what I mean. Just learn how to pivot. I've been doing it all my life. Being able to do whatever it takes to win is just something that comes naturally to me.

Q. They have a couple roster spots open and they are bringing a lot of guys to camp. What is your understanding of the situation for you entering camp?

RUDY GAY: What to expect, I don't expect anything. I just go out there and prove that I can still go. This is year 18, so I pretty much seen everything. Been a part of a lot. But this is a good opportunity for me. I'm excited. So you know, I'm motivated and I'm ready to go. I'm trying to win.

Q. Oftentimes with this team, guys will come in and maybe they have been threes or fours and can downshift into five. They play a lot of small lineups, something you've done the last several years. How do view your potential role on this team in the front court?

RUDY GAY: Whatever. To win, you have to change, just like that, whatever. So I'm prepared to be whatever the team needs, whatever Steve need me to do. Obviously there are a lot of guys on here that have experience on different lineups and stuff. I'll have conversations with them about what they need for me. I'll just do whatever.

I'm not boxed into one way of playing anymore. That was me ten years ago, you know, when I was just trying to make it, trying to do -- trying to carve myself into whatever my career was going to be. But right now, it's just time to win.