It’s been a few months since Rudy Gay, the stylish small forward for the Sacramento Kings sustained a full rupture of his left Achilles tendon; but it was no Goliath-type pitfall. The multi-hyphenate plans to put his other talents to work while focusing on a full recovery. Lucky for us, those plans include a collaborative line with fashion brand, United Rivers. Toys for Boys caught up with Gay to chat life off the court and what the road back to basketball promises to include.
TFB: Who would you say is the Rudy Gay off the court?
RG: A father, a husband and a fashionista, but most importantly I just like to have fun amongst my friends and my family. Life is entirely too short to dwell on the small things.
TFB: It’s no secret that you’re a big sneaker head and a fashion guy in terms of interest; tell me about your collections.
RG: In terms of my collections, I own a variety of brands. I typically purchase items that I like and align well with my style. I would say my collections are very diverse and there’s no one brand that I am loyal to. It’s all about putting the right look together for the occasion.
TFB: What is your favorite collectible piece that you’d never get rid of?
RG: There’s not a particular item that I would be afraid to get rid of, I just feel it’s important to have a timeless timepiece in your collection—for instance, a nice Rolex.
TFB: What brand can you not stop wearing these days?
RG: Two brands that I’m really into these days are Lanvin and Palm Angels.
TFB: Who is the ultimate male style icon on your opinion?
RG: Pharell is the ultimate fashion icon for men’s style. His style is unmatched and I admire how fearless he is when it comes to his fashion choices. He wears what he wants without worrying what the masses will think. You can’t beat that confidence!
TFB: Word on the street is that you’re gearing up to collaborate with United Rivers on a Rudy Gay collection, tell us about that?
RG: Yes, that is correct. The collection will be inspired by me and I will be very hands on during the design process. I am excited to sit down with United Rivers and get to work.
TFB: How involved do you plan to be in the design process and what do you think some of the underlying themes of the collection might be?
RG: I plan to be as involved as possible throughout the design process. I currently don’t have any specific themes in mind but I will work closely with United Rivers to design some great pieces.
TFB: What else to you collect: art, cars, watches? What are some of the pieces in those collections and what is next on the wish list?
RG: I would not really call myself a collector, per say. However, I do have an affinity for nice watches and cars. Next up on my car wish list is a 67 GTL. And I actually just recently purchased a new Patek Philippe watch.
TFB: If you weren’t playing ball, what would you be doing?
RG: It’s important for me to see the results of my work, just like I currently do on the court. Therefore, I would probably be working a blue-collar job. I could also see myself working in fashion of course. The design process fascinates me but most likely I would probably have to get started on the retail level.
TFB: What can we expect in terms of your getting back on the court?
RG: I expect to have a full recovery and a successful upcoming season. The goal is to return stronger than ever.