Breaking: Gordon Hayward Makes Stunning Decision

Over the past five years, Gordon Hayward was known more for missing games than playing them, but when he was in his prime, he was a valuable scorer and even an All-Star. Now, at the age of just 34, Hayward is hanging up the sneakers.

After 14 NBA seasons, Gordon Hayward is retiring. Hayward, 34, was a 2017 NBA All-Star in Utah and played for the Jazz, Celtics, Hornets and Thunder across his career. He was the No. 9 pick in the 2010 Draft after starring at Butler. pic.twitter.com/VrzfA5TrT7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2024

"Today, I am officially retiring from the game of basketball," Hayward wrote. "It's been an incredible ride and I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than I ever imagined."

Hayward was selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2010 Draft by the Utah Jazz, where he played the first seven years of his career, and, hard as it is to believe now, barely ever missed a game. He was an All-Star there in 2016-17, averaging 21.9 points and 39.8% from three, along with 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

After that, he ventured on to play with the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and OKC Thunder in his 14 NBA seasons. But the last several years have been difficult for Hayward to stay on the court, and it all began with a gruesome and horrifying opening night injury with the Celtics in 2017, when he suffered a broken lower left leg and dislocated his left ankle halfway through the first quarter. He was never quite the same player again.

This past season he played in 51 games split between the Hornets and Thunder, where he averaged 9.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Hayward finishes his NBA career averaging 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.