Free agent forward Gordon Hayward has chosen to retire. He posted his decision on social media on Thursday morning (Twitter link).
“Today, I am officially retiring from the game of basketball,” he wrote. “It’s been an incredible ride and I am so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than I ever imagined.”
Hayward, 34, burst onto the national scene in 2010 when he led Butler to the NCAA Championship game, narrowly missing a game-winner half-court heave at the final buzzer against Duke.
The Jazz selected him in the lottery with the ninth pick in that year’s draft. He spent his first seven seasons with Utah and made the All-Star team in the last of those seasons. He departed Utah on a four-year, $128MM deal with the Celtics but his career was sidetracked by a devastating left leg injury in his first regular-season game for Boston.
He left the Celtics in 2020 after declining his player option and was dealt to Charlotte in November 2020 via a sign-and-trade, inking a four-year, $120MM contract in the process. However, his years in Charlotte were a disappointment as injuries piled up and he was unable to lift the franchise to a postseason appearance.
Hayward’s career ended with the Thunder after he was dealt by the Hornets at last season’s trade deadline. Hayward had a limited role with Oklahoma City and expressed frustration after the team was eliminated.
“Obviously disappointing with kind of how it all worked out. This is not what I thought it would be. Certainly frustrating. … We have a great team here with great young players, a great coach. So the future is bright,” Hayward said, adding, “I feel like as a player I have a lot to offer. I just wasn’t given much of an opportunity to do that.”
However, a month after free agency began, Hayward decided to call it quits.
In 835 career regular-season appearances, Hayward averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. He also saw action in 36 postseason contests, averaging 12.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 2.4 APG.
Surprised he didn’t get injured on the way to the retirement office. I wish Gordon the best, and he has done nothing wrong. At the same time, it’s hard to not be disappointed about that entire career.
Classy comment. It hard not to be disappointed in you.
Being offended is a choice. I can’t control your feelings. I didn’t insult anyone. Are you denying he was often injured?
You think I’m “offended”.
Bro, you can say silly things all day. I don’t mind.
You’re two for two on clueless comments today.
You are clearly offended, as evidenced by your response. Only someone offended would respond in this manner. Did you think you had to declare being offended for it to be so? Welcome to the real world, it doesn’t require your validation.
Apparently my comment offended you. Only someone offended would respond in this manner. Did you think you had to declare being offended for it to be so? Welcome to the real world, it doesn’t require your validation
You think when you say dumb things people get offended?
I just feel bad for you TBH.
Entire career? He was pretty good for awhile there. It’s only once the frequent injuries took their toll that he became a shell of himself. Hardly the first guy that’s happened to once they cleared 30.
You’re right. Theres a lot of those. Maybe he stands out cause I’m a Celtics fan.
I’m sure he cares u wish him the best.
I’m sure I care “u” commented back.
I’m sure you are a knucklehead because my comment was directed at reflection.
You’re calling people names because they don’t understand you “direct at reflection”
Ok.
Dude is a real Zen master.
I’m not your dude da, I’m your teacher. Lesson one, your grammar is brutal.
You sure are easy.
Dude;
I can only reflect back whats reflected to me. I’m a mirror guy. What hair you have in this brush anyway cammy?
For someone commenting on the grammar of others yours leaves a lot to be desired. There is a good saying, “You must be a teacher, correcting me when I’m right.”. Time to change your name, kiddo.
Kiddo ?
“I can only reflect back whats reflected to me.”
Yeah, I noticed. It’s kinda pathetic.
He was done at the and in OKC. Respect to him for admitting that to himself.
He was really good in Utah, and then that horrible injury in his first game in Boston. Had a nice career anyway.
Enjoy your retirement!
Damn, but he has made more than enough money
Wouldnt be surprised if he became a coach
the real mvp was this guy’s agent after those injuries
Ya or maybe his surgeon
Getting those contracts after injuries is crazy. Lol. Good for him.
Over a quarter billion dollar, $270 MM to be exact, in career earnings at age 34 ain’t nothing to sneeze at.
He can now start his own travel blog, testing the world’s dream resorts and escapes.
Minus 40% for income tax. Do you people not work? Do you not understand how taxes work?
You are clearly offended, as evidenced by your response. Only someone offended would respond in this manner. Did you think you had to declare being offended for it to be so? Welcome to the real world, it doesn’t require your validation.
I’m not sure why he’s crying about being “under-utilized”.. he ended up with 70-odd minutes in the Playoffs this year without a single field goal! I know he thinks he should’ve gotten more minutes than that, but even COTY Mark Daginault couldn’t come up with a reason to throw more usage into a black hole like Hayward, minutes that could go to Cason Wallace or Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe or Lu Dort, all of whom actually scored a point in the playoffs. It’s OK though, Gordon, now we can stick Hartenstein or Caruso into your spot in the rotation, we’ll probably get at least the same amount of production.. and just maybe we might even get MORE out of them!..
The dude just retired. Zoom out.
Just his naturally competitiveness I guess. Everyone wants to be on the court even if they say (or don’t say) all the right things. We tend to be our biggest supporters, after all. But upon further reflection, I suppose he realized his time had come.
Going through the evolution of having once been a very good player to eventually becoming a shell of himself is something a lot of athletes have to go through if they make it into their mid/late 30s, whether it’s injury-induced or merely the result of Father Time. But as inevitable as that trajectory may be, I think we sometimes forget that these are real people who have to live through an active decline in their ability while watching their younger peers now outclass them. It’s not an easy transition for everyone to make.
As a runner I can sort of relate. Now at 33, I’m already over the hill in terms of my peak potential ability, especially at shorter distances. And I’ll get slower with each passing year while still competing against younger, more athletic, and less injury-prone athletes. It has been a mental adjustment for me and did not happen overnight, but I’ve learned to accept it and strive for what I can do today, not what I could’ve done ten years ago.
Right on. Ten more years and you’ll be where I’m at, you really notice a difference then. I’ve learned in my workouts to adjust them to something my body can handle better (i.e. interval training, etc). The best ballplayers do the same: adapting their game to fit their strengths. Some are really good at it, and that’s why people still get excited to sign Chris Paul. Others can’t come to terms and adapt with their aging bodies when they lose the “first step”. Which way do you think Russell will go in Denver with that?
Do you always just think about yourself?
In the playoffs he played 46 minutes and took 3 shots.
You only get one body. Many can question his toughness, but the talent was there. Leg injuries are fickle. Ask Paul George, Derrick Rose or even Greg Oden.
Very true! We were all hopeful that we got at least a good veteran spot-up shooter that could come in and lead the 2nd unit and give us 10-12 points and a few assists and rebounds in about 18 minutes of play. Nothing too crazy, we already got Shai, Chet & J-Dub.. but that role never really worked out for Gordon here, though it wasn’t for lack of trying by the coaching staff! I agree with you, after that crazy injury in Boston, he just never was 100% and anyone who watches that video will respect the fact that he was even able to play again in the league after that at all..
Good luck Gordon Haywood! Many thanks for choosing our Celtics a few years back! I remember some Celtics games where you made like 12 of 14 shots for us. You helped Brad Stevens and our Celtics in finishing the job. Finally!
I was so happy with that signing and thought we had a really good shot at a title with him, Kyrie, Al, and the young Js. I still remember where I was when I heard of the injury; sadly it was pretty much downhill from there for Gordon. For the Celtics it was really a sliding doors moment, really thought we had something special brewing. Enjoy retirement Gordon!
This is the sad side of the game, if you are a player and injuries piles up and stop you from reaching your full potential. Good luck to him!
He had maybe the greatest “free agent/walk” season ever with Utah, and was looking to continue that upwards trajectory when injury hit him in that first game with Boston. Nice little comeback from that devastating injury with Charlotte but was never the same, and finishes with a kind of middling career with one elite period from 2014-2017.
Screw all the negative comments here. I congratulate him on a great career and good luck in retirement.
It’s not that. He and and wife have to own up for calling out Thunders organization. They were not classy on their way to retirememt.
See, you get it. Nobody here said Gordon wasn’t a good player or that he deserved the way his career ended. We all hoped for him to do well once he got back on a contender. He’s the one who took to social media to blame the coach and his teammates and the organization for his inability to score in the playoffs. I was hoping he’d find a good spot like Portland where he could get back in the starting lineup and finish his career with dignity. Oh well, c’est la vie..
I think when the end of a career comes for a successful player, it can be shocking and and quick to that player. I think his post playoff comments were some self denial that the end was here. As an OKC fan, what he said didn’t bug me because it was obvious to all that he was finished. I can’t blame him too much for being human and wanting to blame others and be in denial until it finally set in.
He doesn’t get it, neither do you.
No one cares about some comment he made . This isn’t about OKC.
You’re probably the kind of person who mutes people because words bother you.
They don’t have to “own up” to anything. That doesn’t matter. To anyone.
What is wrong with people?
The thunder need to stop acting like they have won something. Lots of talk about what they might be,can be and will be.
Well, this explains a lot. Still think he’s been a valuable player the last few years. Charlotte had terrible injury luck and timing a couple of years ago, possibly 3, when they had a shot at a 4-5 seed and their whole team got hurt
Would have liked to see him in a better situation. It was weird in OKC with so many guys at his positions, and him seemingly dealing with some lingering issues
well i have nothing to say that is positive or negative, but my opinion is that he should have resigned with the Jazz. Life was good for him with the Jazz.
Celtics just was not meant to be. So grats on the $$$$, but you should have stayed in SLC.
Always liked his game. Sad to see him go.
He definitely made his bag…
Good luck to GH, on to the next phase of life.
Good riddance!
Aww, Hayward made you sad.
So this is what happens when you realise something a year or 2 too late…
Made a good chunk of cash off of the promise to return to pre injury form and never did for a full season…
I don’t get why anyone should feel sorry for him… He’s set for life and didn’t have to earn it… Much like the Ball brothers…
Always funny when guys announce their “retirement” after receiving no interest in free agent. He didn’t retire, he was retired.
Why are you here lady
Why do you come here to talk about money. It’s not your money. He gets what the market sets. If you don’t know by now Good NBA players make a good living. Then you are out of touch. Talent gets paid in a free society.
Stop the envy and hate. Go hate on American Idol or the Voice. You can shoot down the next star. Bet you can’t sing either.
NBA is not for you if all you see are dollars.
You got stock brokers making millions off of people’s bad investments. Hate on those thieves. You say more about yourself than the players. When money is your argument.
I was stunned.He was immediately arrested by federal authorities 5 NBA teams accused him of fraud. They just want their money back.He stole from them
So bored with people slanging off at others, pointless arguments. It is what it is, I think it was a funny comment as this guy was always getting injured. I think it was a bad team for him to go to in OKC, so obviously not the way he would want to finish his career. This guy is definitely a future NBA coach.
You are clearly offended, as evidenced by your response. Only someone offended would respond in this manner. Did you think you had to declare being offended for it to be so? Welcome to the real world, it doesn’t require your validation.