NBA Community, Former Teammates React to Gordon Hayward's Retirement Announcement

It can be tough for a player to know when it's time to make a decision on stepping away from the game they love. It is inevitable in the NBA when it can only last for a significant amount of time.

Gordon Hayward decided to call it a career after 14 years in the NBA at the age of 33, making his decision known on social media Thursday morning. He averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as he played for four teams throughout his time in the league.

It was an interesting career for Hayward, to say the least. Standing out at Butler University, where he played in the NCAA championship game in 2010, he was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the ninth pick of the 2010 NBA Draft.

He rose up the ranks in the team's rotation, continuing to develop until reaching All-Star form in the 2016-17 season. He averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists throughout the campaign to lead the Jazz to the West Semis.

Unfortunately for Hayward, he wouldn't reach that peak again. Signing with the Boston Celtics in the 2017 offseason, he broke his ankle in the season opener against Cleveland, stunting his growth and changing the trajectory of his career.

Departing Boston for the Charlotte Hornets in 2020, he showcased stronger form by averaging 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. However, health kept holding him back as he missed a combined 124 games in the last four years of his career.

Getting sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the middle of the 2023-24 season, he hoped to make an impact on a team that needed veteran experience as they were exceeding expectations with the best record in the Western Conference.

Despite his efforts, the benefits were unable to come to fruition for Hayward. In a limited role, he scored 5.3 points per game in 26 regular-season appearances for the Thunder as he went scoreless in the postseason.

Hayward, even with the injuries and struggles he had throughout his career, garnered respect with the way he persevered through them. And at his best, he was a player that kept opponents wary of his undeniable talent.

With his announcement, the NBA community and Hayward's former teammates made their reactions known. Here are some of them:

"Pleasure being able share the floor with you bro, Congrats on a great career," PJ Washington said on Instagram.

"Amazing career G time!" Derrick Favors said on Instagram.

"Congratulations on retirement brother. Was an honor to share the floor with you," Grant Williams said on Instagram.

"Helluva career fellow 2020 draftmate," Paul George said via his Podcast P account.