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.
by horseshoeoverlook
30 Comments
Good for Gordon in the sense that his body failed him and I bet it can’t have been fun constantly having to rehab and come back from injuries, and he made a metric fuck ton of money in his career.
But I cannot believe the amount of people within this sub that wanted us to sign him over the last few years and am so glad that we’re done with that now. It just wasn’t meant to be.
Statement:
#God has blessed me with an amazing journey, one that has taken turns I couldn’t have expected or dreamed of as a kid in Brownsburg, Indiana.
# Today, I am officially retiring from the game of basketball. It’s been an incredible ride and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than l ever imagined.
From a young age, my favorite bible verse has always been:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13.
#I want to thank God for giving me the grace and privilege to play this game and allowing me to bring my best each and every day.
# To all my coaches, teammates, trainers, doctors, friends, and family – there are too many people to name in this short post, but you supported me through countless years and cities, helping me exceed my own expectations.
A special shout out to my mom and dad – my biggest fans – always cheering me on with unwavering support; my agent, Mark Bartelstein – the best in the business, a pillar of sanity through countless phone calls before and after games; my kids Bernie, Charlie, Nora, and GT – you have been my inspiration, encouraging me to keep playing even when I could have been at home with you; and the biggest and most important thank you to my wife, Robyn – without you I don’t know where l’d be. You embody all these roles and so much more!
#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 to do the same!
#As I move to spend more time with my family as a father and husband, I look forward to new adventures and challenges, taking with me the lessons I’ve learned on the court that will guide me across my next chapters, both in business and in life.
#I can’t wait for what’s next!
It’s a shame he broke his leg, that would have been a fun team to watch. Have to imagine Tatum and Brown wouldn’t have had the same development (or even remained with the team) so maybe it worked out alright for the Celtics
He’s one of the biggest what if’s in Celtic history. The injury ruined the trajectory of his career. He would’ve been a multi time AS and competing for All NBAs with us if not for it. Got his jersey the week he was signed. He was always one of my favorite basketball players in general.
Still bums me out thinking about the injury
All time bag securement legend. Getting that extra $120M from Charlotte was historic.
Didn’t go the way we planned, but I still enjoyed watching G in a Celtics uniform.
It’s unfortunate that the leg injury will overshadow an otherwise solid career.
🥂 to a great career
Potentially 2 championships lost imo. I think we could have had at least one in the first 2 years if he didn’t get injured. I also think we beat the Lakers in the Bubble if he doesn’t get injured in the 1st Round. Likely we actually take care of business in the 2nd Round and Kemba doesn’t get hurt. We then face the Heat with a healthy Kemba and a healthy Hayward.
The only regular season game where I said “I need to be there” was opening night 2018
Hayward first home game, Kyrie return, year-2 JT, year-3 JB
Met Gucci Mane, Kyries dad and Mook Morris’ family that night
We blew Philly out
Probably top-10 night ever, I thought that team was going 75-7 after that night
Believe I posted on social “a dynasty started today”
What could have been…
I wish the best for Gordon, dude made generational wealth for his family and now gets to live the rest of his life to do as he pleases… bravo!
Easy for fans to forget, but he came back earlyish off of his injury, and missed the birth of his second child to join the Celtics in the bubble during the ECF I think
Will always value him trying here, but his time with us was cursed the moment he got the injury in the first 5 minutes
Not sure it would happen, but I’m assuming there will be speculation about him joining the Celtics in an executive role.
I wanted to see him and Brad win a championship together in Boston and am sad it never happened.
His injury was a freak one, and it’s really sad that he became so injury prone after that. (I don’t know what his health was like in Utah.)
Gordon Haywood was a one time all star. The way folks are talking about him you would think he was Larry Bird
I think his injury is still the most devastating one I’ve watched live.
Man suffered one of those most traumatic injuries I’ve seen at his peak and was never the same. Hope he is healthy and happy post-retirement.
“Played” is not the right word to describe what he did in Boston 🤣
It didn’t work out the way we wanted, but we can’t let his 2020 season be forgotten, it had seemed like he had found a new groove as a player and was very effective.
I’ll always remember when he was finally healthy in the Miami series and we ran the Kemba/Smart/Brown/Hayward/Tatum lineup for about 10-15 minutes. And it was glorious.
I’m still bummed that I missed his 5ish good minutes as a Celtic because I was picking up Thai food.
The food was great tho
He was always a decent shooter and passer so you’d assume even when his athleticism dipped he’d be a decent bench guy or veteran leader, kinda like Joe Ingles did in Orlando last season, but then you look at those Charlotte teams that have an absolute garbage culture and you see hes not really a behind the scenes leader either.
He could still contribute, but he has a ton of money and a big family. No reason for him not to ride off into the sunset, let his body rest, and enjoy his life. Unfortunate what could have been
Apparently Gordon didn’t do anything. That was all god 🙄. Why not take credit for all that hard work? Other than genetics making you big enough to get an NBA job, these players for 1 of 250+ jobs in which 1,000’s are competing! Gordon was a spot up shooter, and I’m curious why he didn’t play until he was actually old. Most guys are at the end of their prime at 34. Steph got a chip at 34, as did MJ, Bron, etc. I guess enough $30-35million contracts meant he could just quit. But wait… God must’ve told him to! 🤣
Amazing career
Wonder if he follows, President Steven’s into coaching, love Hayward will always remember him as the 79 overall dude in 2k that looked like he was 12 and could drop 50 with ease.
With him retiring, Paul George is now the only player remaining from the 2010 draft class.
No way. He can still contribute and I don’t think he is as washed as his OKC stint made him look.
What could have been. That 5 minute Celtic stint was memorable to say the least.
Godspeed Gordon
When he was on the Celtics his family used to shop for groceries at the store I used to work at. During the pandemic he came in and bought lunch gift cards for every single employee. And there were over 100 employees easy. It was such a stressful and crazy time to be working but I’ll always remember that thoughtful and generous act from the Haywards.
I guess I get why Jae Crowder doesn’t get the same amount of hate that Manny Machado does. Because, while I don’t think Jae Crowder _tried_ to hurt Hayward, I don’t think he did a very good job of not hurting him, either. And you know there was a little bit of history there, too. Again, I don’t think Jae Crowder was trying to hurt him, at least not that bad. But he was definitely trying to put Hayward on his ass.
And to be clear, I’d be kinda pissed too if the home crowd was cheering for some guy on the other team in the hopes that he’d come and take my job.
It sucks it never really worked out after that happened. Hayward had some really good streatches on the C’s, but then some shit would always happen and it’d be back to “Well, once he gets back and gets in rhythm” for the umpteenth time. Shitty situation, man.
Lastly, I don’t think Machado was _trying_ to hurt Pedroia, either, but he was so reckless that he might as well have been.