It was one of the surprises of the summer: at only 34 years old, and while nothing led us to imagine this news, Gordon Hayward decided to end his career. If his time in Oklahoma City was tasteless, the former Jazz winger still had basketball in his legs. But the will was no longer there.
When did he know that it was finally the time to leave the courts to devote himself to his family and his passion, cinema? “I had this in my head for two years”he responds to The Athletic. “But I think this summer, talking to my family, my agent, listening to the offers and where I could go, I told myself that I was happy and at peace with everything that had happened. I was going to be content to stay in Charlotte and live my life. This is how it happened. »
And even if his career will remain hit by this terrible injury in Boston and his failure there – he arrived at the same time as Kyrie Irving – he has no regrets. “I was obviously disappointed and frustrated with the way things developed. It sucks to think it's because of that, but an injury changed my career. I didn't imagine it would be like this in Boston, but I'm at peace with it.”he assures.
A high-level return to Charlotte to forget Boston
It was his adventure in Charlotte, after Boston, which allowed Gordon Hayward to partially erase this frustration. “My first year there”he says when asked when was he satisfied with his career.
“I wanted to be an All-Star so bad and I was”he continues, referring to the 2016/17 season with Utah. “Then I hoped to win the title and continue this momentum when I arrived in Boston. My big injury then occurred. From then on, I wanted to prove that I was still the player I was. The first few years in Charlotte, I did. There were injuries and we didn't win much, but I had the impression, at times, of being the same player as before. I became myself again and that suited me. »
In 2020/21, for example, he averaged 19.6 points, his third best in his career, with a nice 41% 3-point success rate. “I had career highs in Charlotte. I scored 41 points in three quarters. I was back. I was proud of that”he confides despite the injuries which plagued his seasons and those of the Hornets. But, again, he says it: “I’m at peace with that now. »
| Gordon Hayward | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2010-11 | UTH | 72 | 17 | 48.5 | 47.3 | 71.1 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 5.4 |
| 2011-12 | UTH | 66 | 31 | 45.6 | 34.6 | 83.2 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 11.9 |
| 2012-13 | UTH | 72 | 29 | 43.5 | 41.5 | 82.7 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 14.1 |
| 2013-14 | UTH | 77 | 36 | 41.3 | 30.4 | 81.6 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 16.2 |
| 2014-15 | UTH | 76 | 34 | 44.5 | 36.4 | 81.2 | 0.7 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 19.3 |
| 2015-16 | UTH | 80 | 36 | 43.3 | 34.9 | 82.4 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 19.7 |
| 2016-17 | UTH | 73 | 35 | 47.1 | 39.8 | 84.4 | 0.7 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 21.9 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 1 | 5 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 72 | 26 | 46.6 | 33.3 | 83.4 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 11.5 |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 52 | 34 | 50.0 | 38.3 | 85.5 | 1.1 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 17.5 |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 44 | 34 | 47.3 | 41.5 | 84.3 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 19.6 |
| 2021-22 | CHA | 49 | 32 | 45.9 | 39.1 | 84.6 | 0.8 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 15.9 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 50 | 32 | 47.5 | 32.5 | 81.1 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 14.7 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 51 | 24 | 46.4 | 41.1 | 74.2 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 9.8 |
| 2023-24 * | OKC | 26 | 17 | 45.3 | 51.7 | 69.2 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 5.3 |
| 2023-24 * | CHA | 25 | 32 | 46.8 | 36.1 | 76.5 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 14.5 |
| Total | 835 | 31 | 45.5 | 37.0 | 82.2 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 15.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
