Thurl Bailey vs. Rudy Gay Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy Gay and Thurl Bailey, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Thurl Bailey played 12 years in the NBA, 5 less than Rudy Gay, who played 17. Thurl Bailey had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while Rudy Gay had his rookie season in 2006-07. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Thurl Bailey 12 9 1983-84 to 1998-99
Rudy Gay 17 3 2006-07 to 2022-23

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1983-842006-07
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 81 24.8 8.5 1.4 4.3 5.7 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.3 2.4 3.7 7.3 .512 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.4 .752
Rudy Gay 78 27.0 10.8 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.8 2.5 4.1 9.7 .422 0.7 1.8 .364 1.9 2.7 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 30.9 10.6 1.4 4.2 5.5 0.9 0.2 1.0 1.5 3.0 4.5 8.8 .515 0.0 0.2 .000 1.5 1.9 .810
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1984-852007-08
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 80 31.0 15.2 1.9 4.7 6.6 1.7 0.6 1.3 1.9 2.7 6.3 12.9 .490 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.5 2.9 .842
Rudy Gay 81 37.0 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.2 2.0 1.4 1.0 2.3 2.8 7.7 16.7 .461 1.7 4.8 .346 3.1 3.9 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 10 37.5 16.9 2.1 7.1 9.2 2.7 0.5 1.8 2.1 3.0 6.2 15.2 .408 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.5 .818
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1985-862008-09
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 28.8 14.6 1.8 4.2 6.0 1.9 0.5 1.4 1.8 2.0 5.9 13.1 .448 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 3.4 .830
Rudy Gay 79 37.3 18.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 1.7 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.8 7.2 16.0 .453 1.1 3.1 .351 3.3 4.4 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 4 36.8 16.0 2.8 5.3 8.0 3.3 0.5 0.5 1.3 3.3 7.0 19.3 .364 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.8 .727
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1986-872009-10
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 81 26.6 13.8 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.3 0.5 1.1 1.5 1.9 5.7 12.8 .447 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 2.9 .805
Rudy Gay 80 39.7 19.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 1.9 1.5 0.8 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.1 .466 0.8 2.5 .327 3.8 5.0 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 5 30.2 15.6 2.8 3.2 6.0 1.8 0.6 1.2 2.4 2.4 6.0 12.6 .476 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.6 1.000
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1987-882010-11
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 34.2 19.6 1.6 4.8 6.5 1.9 0.6 1.5 2.3 2.3 7.7 15.7 .492 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.0 .826
Rudy Gay 54 39.9 19.8 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.8 1.7 1.1 2.5 2.4 7.6 16.1 .471 1.1 2.7 .396 3.6 4.5 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 40.8 23.2 1.9 3.8 5.7 1.6 0.5 2.1 1.9 2.9 9.0 18.5 .488 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.2 .838
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1988-892011-12
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 33.9 19.5 1.4 4.0 5.5 1.7 0.6 1.1 2.5 2.3 7.5 15.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .400 4.4 5.4 .825
Rudy Gay 65 37.3 19.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 2.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.1 7.5 16.4 .455 0.8 2.7 .312 3.2 4.0 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 3 40.7 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.7 4.0 11.3 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.0 .800
Rudy Gay 7 39.9 19.0 1.4 5.1 6.6 1.4 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 6.9 16.3 .421 0.6 2.7 .211 4.7 5.7 .825

Season 7

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1989-902012-13
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 31.5 14.2 1.4 3.6 5.0 1.7 0.4 1.2 1.7 2.1 5.7 11.9 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.5 .779
Rudy Gay 75 35.8 18.2 1.3 4.8 6.1 2.7 1.5 0.7 2.6 2.4 6.9 16.7 .416 1.1 3.5 .323 3.2 3.9 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 5 38.0 21.0 1.6 4.8 6.4 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.0 3.8 8.6 17.6 .489 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 4.8 .792
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1990-912013-14
Team Utah JazzToronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 30.3 12.4 1.2 3.7 5.0 1.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 2.0 4.9 10.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.3 .808
Rudy Gay 73 34.7 20.0 1.5 4.4 6.0 2.9 1.3 0.8 3.1 2.3 7.4 16.2 .455 0.9 2.7 .330 4.4 5.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 9 25.3 7.6 1.2 2.3 3.6 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 3.0 2.6 7.1 .359 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .880
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1991-922014-15
Team Utah Jazz, Minnesota TimberwolvesSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 84 25.0 11.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.3 1.9 4.4 10.0 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.2 .796
Rudy Gay 68 35.4 21.1 1.4 4.4 5.9 3.7 1.0 0.6 2.7 2.3 7.5 16.4 .455 1.2 3.2 .359 5.0 5.8 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1992-932015-16
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 70 18.2 7.5 0.8 2.3 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.3 2.9 6.4 .455 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .838
Rudy Gay 70 34.0 17.2 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.7 14.4 .463 1.1 3.1 .344 2.8 3.6 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1993-942016-17
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 79 16.4 7.4 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.9 5.8 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 1.9 .799
Rudy Gay 30 33.8 18.7 1.2 5.2 6.3 2.8 1.5 0.9 2.5 2.6 6.7 14.7 .455 1.4 3.8 .372 3.9 4.6 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Note: Thurl Bailey didn't play in 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Season 12

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season 1998-992017-18
Team Utah JazzSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 43 12.6 4.2 0.8 1.3 2.2 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.6 1.8 1.8 4.1 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.8 .735
Rudy Gay 57 21.6 11.5 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.8 0.7 1.4 1.7 4.4 9.4 .471 0.6 2.1 .314 2.0 2.5 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 10.5 3.4 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.7 1.5 3.0 .515 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .750
Rudy Gay 5 32.0 12.2 1.8 3.8 5.6 2.2 1.6 0.2 1.2 3.2 5.2 13.0 .400 0.8 3.6 .222 1.0 1.8 .556

Season 13

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season -2018-19
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 69 26.7 13.7 0.9 5.9 6.8 2.6 0.8 0.5 1.7 2.3 5.4 10.8 .504 1.1 2.7 .402 1.7 2.1 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 7 25.6 11.1 1.9 5.3 7.1 1.7 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.9 4.0 10.0 .400 1.1 2.7 .421 2.0 2.4 .824

Season 14

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season -2019-20
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 67 21.8 10.8 0.9 4.5 5.4 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.5 4.0 8.9 .446 1.1 3.3 .336 1.8 2.0 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season -2020-21
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 63 21.6 11.4 0.7 4.1 4.8 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.0 1.8 4.2 10.0 .420 1.7 4.4 .381 1.3 1.6 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season -2021-22
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 55 18.9 8.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.9 .414 1.3 3.7 .345 1.1 1.4 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Thurl Bailey Rudy Gay
Season -2022-23
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 56 14.6 5.2 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.2 1.9 5.1 .380 0.6 2.3 .254 0.8 0.9 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------