Gordon Hayward launches FORM, a basketball product for those who want to become better shooters: "I really think it can really help out a lot of young shooters"

Former NBA player Gordon Hayward made a big decision this summer when he officially retired from the league and started a new chapter in his life. After a successful 14-year-long career in which he played for four different teams, it was time to let go of an essential part of his life and focus on what came after that.

In an exclusive interview with Gordon, we first touched upon his family and how missing simple things like driving the kids to school was becoming too taxing on him. He came to a point where he wanted to spend more time with his wife and kids.

FORM is a new business venture by Hayward

However, he also said that as a former player, it's essential to keep yourself occupied with as many things as possible because if you don't, many retired players find themselves in a lot of trouble, and some even experience depression because they don't have anything to focus on after hanging up the boots.

Luckily for Gordon, he is now involved in a new venture — a product for anyone who wants to become a better shooter. This new basketball tool is called FORM , and he explained the origin story of how he got involved in it, only because he started using it to become a better shooter.

"This product was invented by a guy named Charlie Wallace, and I bought this product for myself three years ago," Gordon said about the invention of FORM. "Even at my level, I thought there were things that I could do better with my shooting. I felt like my left hand got involved a bit too much, like my hand was in the center of basketball all the time. I thought, "Let's just give it a chance," so I bought one, and I liked using it myself."

Hayward didn't regret giving this product a chance. It even sparked an idea between him and his business partner that they could turn it into a profitable venture that would bring value to kids and basketball coaches. Therefore, they went all in, bought the company, rebranded it, and started promoting the product.

"My partner and I decided we can really launch this thing and want to get it out to a bunch of players. We decided to buy the company, we rebranded it, we designed a few things in it to change it a bit."

Unusual product ready to take over basketball

After seeing the product before talking with Gordon, I honestly thought it was unusual because it's shaped like a cube. I really couldn't understand the benefits behind it, but speaking with Gordon, he gave a pretty extended explanation of the advantages and how it should be used alongside traditional shooting practice with a basketball.

"The things it does really well, it doesn't replace a basketball, Gordon emphasized when talking about FORM. " First and foremost this thing is a tool, an aid. If you were to ask a question, how do you shoot a basketball? Where do you start as a lot of parents and coaches do with young kids, this would be a tool you use."

"It's a unique shape, it's a square, and a basketball is obviously round, but because it's square, when you do it right, it spins in singular axis, and you can really see it; Hayward broke down how the product works. "You see, if your elbow is out right away, you know if you use your offhand right away."

The great thing about FORM is that you can use it while sitting on the couch and working on your shooting form. Gordon used it at different times throughout the day, and it helped him correct his shooting form.

"Another cool thing I did more than anything with it, you don't necessarily need a goal. I used it at my house, just sitting on the couch watching TV. I am just shooting it up in the air and just working on my form. I really think it can really help out a lot of young shooters. I think more than anything, it's for kids and young players looking to develop."

PG also saw the value in FORM

This product has also gained the attention of another NBA superstar, Paul George , who became the ambassador of FORM, seeing its value in helping young upcoming basketball players improve their shooting form. Gordon said he showcased FORM to PG13 during one of his podcast episodes, and George didn't take long to get on board.

"We remained friends throughout the course of my and his NBA career. I went to his podcast and actually showed him the product and he thought it was awesome, Hayward recalled introducing PG to FORM. "He really liked it and thought it can really help and that is how the whole thing started and he wanted to be apart of it."

We have seen several basketball products over the last decade or so, but this one is pretty unique primarily due to its shape but also because it focuses specifically on shooting and helping you have a balanced shooting form. As Gordon mentioned, it's not a substitute for a basketball but a tool you can use as a part of your standard shooting training.

Diving into entrepreneurship is never easy, but the Butler alumnus is confident he has a product that brings value and can help young basketball players and their coaches. It's always great and inspiring to see former NBA players already have a plan in place after retirement and are looking to dip their toes in uncharted territory, like building up a product for a wider audience.

Luckily for Hayward, he has the know-how and the right people around him to help him bring FORM to everyone who wants to work on perfecting their shooting form and become the best shooters they can be.

Related: Hayward says he wanted to the Heat before signing with the Celtics: "We don't even have to do the other meetings"