Memphis Grizzlies' forward Rudy Gay needs surgery, will miss rest of season

Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay will miss the rest of this season after a second opinion on his partially dislocated left shoulder determined that the injury requires surgery.

Gay received the news after traveling to Birmingham, Ala., to visit renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

“I’ve never really been hurt. I’ve never had anything shut me down,” Gay said. “There’s really no brace or anything I can wear to make it better. I have to have the surgery.”

Gay was hurt Feb. 15 in a game against Philadelphia. He’s had to sit out the past five weeks. However, the healing process hasn’t progressed enough to allow Gay full range of motion in the shoulder.

Predictably, the 24-year-old sounded saddened by the news that he won’t be a part of the Grizzlies’ first playoff run since 2006. They are sitting in the eighth seed with a two-game lead over Houston in the Western Conference playoff standings.

“Not being able to celebrate the success of the team on the court is hard,” Gay said. “I was even thinking about going without the surgery and risk further injury to play. But I’ve been getting advised not to do it.”

Griz owner Michael Heisley, coach Lionel Hollins and Gay’s agent, Jeff Austin, convinced the fifth-year player to follow Dr. Andrews’ recommendation.

The organization understandably would like to protect a big investment, too. Gay signed a five-year, $84 million contract before the start of this season. For his part, Gay responded by producing a career year in several statistical categories this season.