Rudy Gay will retire after seventeen NBA seasons, the veteran announced Tuesday.

Gay, 38, last played for the Utah Jazz in the 2022-2023 season. He had signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors last summer, but that was waived shortly before the season.

“I had to humble myself and say, ‘Look, this is over,'” Gay wrote in a piece for The Players’ Tribune on Tuesday. “But actually come to grips with the fact that it is overthat’s… a process. One that I honestly still deal with, and sometimes struggle with. I still watch games and see some of these guys miss a pass or fumble the ball out of bounds, and I’m definitely that guy yelling at the TV like, ‘I’m better than that clown. Are you kidding me?!?!?’ It’s not pretty.

“I’m 38 years old. That’s nowhere near halfway through their career for most people. So the way I see it, I still have a lot of work to do. … In the meantime, I’m just extremely grateful for all love, wisdom and friendship that I have experienced in the game of basketball.”

After starring at UConn, Gay was selected No. 8 overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2006 NBA draft and traded to the Memphis Grizzlies a few weeks later, where he made the All-Rookie team that season. He ranks fifth in points, fourth in minutes played and fourth in games played in Grizzlies history.

Gay is one of four players to average 10 or more points between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, along with Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and LeBron James.

Gay spent much of his career with the Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 1,120 career games (778 starts). He also spent time with the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and, most recently, the Jazz.

“I am the luckiest man in the world,” Gay wrote.