Gordon Hayward has called it quits.
Hayward announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the Association in a post on social media on August 2, Friday (PH time).
Thank you 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/fqbw3WML0n
— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) August 1, 2024
"It's been an incredible ride and I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than l ever imagined," he wrote.
Hayward was selected ninth overall by Utah in the 2010 NBA Draft, where he spent his first seven years in the league and played the best basketball of his career.
He was named an All-Star in 2027 after averaging 21.9 points and 5.4 assists on 47.1% shooting and 39.8% clip beyond the arc and led the Jazz to the second round of the playoffs.
Hayward then bolted to the Boston Celtics and got reunited with former college coach Brad Stevens, only to suffer a gruesome broken left leg and dislocated ankle six minutes into his first game with the squad at the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
Injuries continued to mar his stay with the Celtics, who traded him to the Hornets in 2020 before he was dealt to the Thunder this past season but played sparingly.
In 835 career regular-season games, the 34-year-old averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
Before that, Hayward played for Butler and nearly led the Bulldogs to a miraculous upset over the Duke in the 2010 national championship game but his half court heave bounced off the rim, and the Blue Devils held on to win.
“To all my fans: thank you for supporting me through the ups and downs. I’ll always cherish the letters of encouragement and the moments we’ve shared around the world. You inspired me to always dream big and improve everyday — and for the young players up next, I challenge you do to the same.
