Former All-Star and lottery pick Gordon Hayward has announced his retirement from the NBA after 14 seasons. The announcement came on Thursday.
Hayward was selected by the Utah Jazz as the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, where he spent the first seven seasons of his career. His final season with the Jazz marked the peak of his career, as he averaged 21.9 points per game.
In 2017, Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics, but his debut was marred by a season-ending leg injury just five minutes into the game. He continued to play for two more seasons in Boston before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
During his time with the Hornets from 2020 to 2024, Hayward started 167 of the 168 games he participated in. He was later traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at last year’s trade deadline. However, his role in OKC was limited, as he played less than seven minutes per game during the playoffs and did not score.
Hayward is also recognized for his successful college career at Butler University. Under the guidance of head coach Brad Stevens, Hayward helped lead the Bulldogs to the national title game against Duke in 2010, where Butler lost by just two points. Hayward is remembered for one of the most famous missed shots in college basketball history—a half-court attempt that nearly won the game for Butler at the buzzer.
Over the course of his career, Hayward averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, shooting 45.5% from the field and 37% from three-point range in 649 regular-season games. Additionally, he appeared in 36 playoff games during five postseason runs.
