Rudy Gay’s Brutally Honest Take on Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley’s Careers
Former Memphis Grizzlies star Rudy Gay offered a candid perspective on the careers of Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley during a recent appearance on the Out The Mud podcast, hosted by Zach Randolph and Tony Allen.
Before Lowry became a franchise legend with the Toronto Raptors, he spent his first two and a half seasons with the Grizzlies, who selected him 24th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft out of Villanova. However, Lowry never became a regular starter in Memphis. After the Grizzlies drafted Conley with the fourth overall pick in 2007, Conley took the starting point guard role immediately, sparking a heated competition between the two.
When Lionel Hollins took over as head coach in 2009, he informed Lowry that the team would move forward with Conley at the point guard spot. Lowry, understandably upset, saw his relationship with the team sour, ultimately leading to his trade to the Houston Rockets at the 2009 trade deadline. He would go on to play three seasons in Houston before joining Toronto in 2012.
Rudy Gay’s Take on the Rivalry
Reflecting on the intense competition between Conley and Lowry, Gay shared a brutally honest take. “That’s the most competitive (expletive) I’ve ever seen in my life,” Gay said. “Two lottery point guards. Two great point guards who still play today. Who were we going to give the keys to? But what happened shaped both of their careers.”
Gay continued, praising Lowry’s toughness: “Kyle Lowry is a dog, right? But I don’t know if he’s that kind of dog without being put in that situation, being the second fiddle to Mike Conley. Everything happens for a reason.” Gay also acknowledged Lowry’s remarkable career trajectory, calling him a Hall of Famer and noting that he’s on track to have a statue in Toronto.
The “Grit and Grind” Era’s Success
Despite the tension between Lowry and Conley, things worked out for the Grizzlies as a whole. The team entered its “Grit and Grind” era, a period led by Conley, Randolph, and Marc Gasol, and supported by players like Gay and Allen. This era is considered by many to be the “Golden Era” of Grizzlies basketball, which saw them reach the 2013 conference finals before being swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
As the Grizzlies head into the 2025-2026 season, they’ll be looking to recapture some of that success, starting with their season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 22.
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