Gordon Hayward has announced his retirement from the NBA after 14 illustrious seasons. On social media Thursday, Hayward shared his farewell message, expressing deep gratitude for his journey in basketball.
“Today, I am officially retiring from the game of basketball,” wrote Hayward. “It’s been an incredible ride, and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than I ever imagined.”
Hayward, a versatile forward, was the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He was an All-Star with Utah in 2017 before signing with the Boston Celtics that summer. Unfortunately, a severe leg injury in his debut game for Boston sidelined him for the season and affected his play the following year.
In the previous season, Hayward averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 51 games with the Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder. He was traded midseason to Oklahoma City in a move aimed at boosting the Thunder’s playoff chances, but he didn’t score in seven playoff games.
The 34-year-old Hayward ends his career with averages of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Reflecting on his career, Hayward credited his success to his time at Butler University, where he led the team to the 2010 championship game against Duke, nearly clinching the title with a dramatic half-court shot.
Hayward offered heartfelt thanks to his parents, family, agent Mark Bartelstein, coaches, teammates, trainers, doctors, and friends for their support throughout his career.
“To all my fans: thank you for supporting me through the ups and downs,” he wrote. “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 every day — and for the young players up next, I challenge you to do the same!”
As he transitions to spending more time with his family, Hayward looks forward to new ventures and challenges, armed with the lessons learned from his basketball career.
“I can’t wait for what’s next!” he concluded.