At just 34 years old, Gordon Hayward is retiring earlier than some might have anticipated. Hayward initially gained national attention during his time at Butler, where he narrowly missed a National Championship victory against Duke with a half-court buzzer-beater that fell short.
Throughout his 14-season NBA career, Hayward played for the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and concluded with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Over his career, he appeared in 835 regular-season games, averaging 15.2 points per game. Hayward’s standout year came in 2017 when he earned an All-Star selection by averaging 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, with nearly 50% shooting from the field and 40% from three-point range.
However, his career took a significant hit due to injuries, starting with a severe injury in his debut game with the Celtics in 2018. After that, Hayward struggled to return to his previous form, playing more than 50 games in only two of his final seven seasons. Following a challenging playoff run with the Thunder this season, Hayward has chosen to retire and spend more time with his family.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Gordon Hayward as he embarks on this new chapter beyond his NBA career.
