By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Former NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward confirmed that he is officially retiring from the sport after 14 active seasons on August 1, 2024.
In a social media post he uploaded, Hayward announced that he would be stepping away from the NBA which drew mixed reactions from his former teammates and colleagues.
“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 I ever imagined,” wrote Hayward on his official X account.
Hayward last played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and was present with the team during their 2023-2024 NBA Playoff run.
However, the seasoned small forward failed to make the team’s rotation from the first round of the post-season and was benched for the most of the playoffs.
Hayward began his NBA journey when he was selected as the ninth overall draft pick by the Utah Jazz during the 2010 Rookie Draft ceremony.
Fresh off a grand final appearance after leading Butler to the championship stage of the NCAA men’s basketball, Hayward’s draft stock quickly increased when he served as one of the main gunners for the team.
Although Hayward and Butler fell short against Duke during the championship game, he quickly became to a reliable scorer in the NBA and spent his first seven years with the Utah franchise.
His consistent scoring numbers helped him earn a spot as one of the All-Star members of the Western Conference division during the 2010 season.
However, his stint with the Jazz was cut short after the Boston Celtics traded for him and formed a promising roster with Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Brown.
Despite the hype built around the talented team, the squad still failed to get past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hayward’s maximum potential also failed to bloom in the league after the swingman suffered a devastating leg injury that kept him out for almost two years.
After the tragic event, Hayward’s career started to fall off and didn’t reach the same scoring numbers he averaged during his pre-injury state.
Hayward continued to play in the NBA and rendered his services to the Charlotte Hornets for four years before arriving with the Thunder.
“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,” continued Hayward.
