2017 All-Star Announces Retirement
After spending three and a half seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, the struggling franchise sent 2017 all-star Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Davis Bertans, Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, a 2024 second-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and cash considerations. Hayward at 34 years old may not be the same all-star he once was, however, he can certainly help a team in their run to the NBA Finals. During these past playoffs, the six-foot-seven-inch forward played in seven games for the Thunder. Although Oklahoma City was eliminated in the second round by the eventual 2024 Western Conference champions, the Dallas Mavericks, the Thunder still put up one phenomenal, and dominant season leading the Western Conference with 57 wins during the regular season. Hayward became a free agent at the end of the season, and it was just announced that the 2017 all-star has announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the NBA.
During the 2010 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz selected Hayward as the ninth overall pick. He played seven seasons with the Jazz, making his first and only all-star appearance in his final year with Utah. In the 2017 offseason, Hayward signed a four-year 128 million dollar deal with the Boston Celtics. He would be paired up with Kyrie Irving, and less than six minutes into Boston’s season opener with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Hayward suffered a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle. The 2017 all-star would miss the rest of the season. It took some time, but during his final year with the Celtics, Hayward bumped his scoring to nearly 18 points a game. In the 2020 offseason, the six-foot-seven forward agreed to a four-year 120 million dollar contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He averaged 20 points a game in his first season in Charlotte, but after that, his scoring numbers began to drop. This past season, the Hornets traded Hayward to Oklahoma City.
In 51 games and 28 starts with both the Hornets, and the Thunder, Hayward averaged about 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 24 minutes a night. On December 6th as a member of the Hornets, the 2017 all-star dropped 27 points along with four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block during a 111-110 loss to the Chicago Bulls. He certainly has had glimpses of his former self this past season, and now with his playing career all said and done for, did Hayward have a successful NBA career?
