It’s the end of the hardwood road for Gordon Hayward, the Indiana native and former Butler University standout who, after a 14-year stint, is stepping away from the NBA court. As a first-round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Hayward carved out a career with teams such as the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Oklahoma City Thunder before announcing his retirement.
Hayward captured headlines and a community of fans back in 2010 when his half-court heave for Butler nearly toppled Duke in the NCAA men's basketball championship, a moment that almost seemed to predestine an eventful professional career. Through the hills and valleys of his time in the league, he managed to easily make to secure his place in the NBA All-Star Team in 2017, a peak before a devastating leg injury while with the Celtics derailed his trajectory. This, according to CBS4Indy, hampered his performance in the subsequent seasons.
The career finale stats for Hayward include an average of 15.2 points per game over 835 regular-season games. Not one to leave fans in suspense, Hayward took to social media to express his departure from the game. "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," Hayward shared in a post captured by WISH-TV.
The now-retired professional athlete, who originally hails from Brownsburg and brought pride to Butler University, looks forward now to pivot his time more toward family life. "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," he wrote, a sentiment chronicled by WIProud. Hayward's future beyond the hardwood remains to be seen, but he ends his time in the league with gratitude and the anticipation of what lies ahead.
