RealGM

Gordon Hayward is retiring from the NBA after a 14-year career. Hayward announced his retirement via posts on social media.

Hayward played for the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City during his 14-year NBA career. He retires with career averages of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Hayward played the first seven years of his career with the Jazz, before moving to the Celtics in 2017. Hayward fractured his leg just five minutes into his Boston debut and was never again fully healthy in his career.

Hayward signed with the Hornets in 2020, following three years with the Celtics. He was traded to the Thunder at the 2024 trade deadline.

Via RealGM Staff Report

RIP

One of the higher dollar per minutes played players.

HaydukesRedux wrote:One of the higher dollar per minutes played players.

Gordon and Chandler Parsons both had similar play styles and ultimately, career arcs.

HaydukesRedux wrote:One of the higher dollar per minutes played players.

Nobody can beat Ben Simmons.

Just a friendly reminder: LeBron was on year 7 during Hayward's rookie year.

Karma is a bitch. First Deron, then Hayward. Watch Mitchell fail in get any title in NBA.

Bummer. It's always hard to see a player's career derailed by injury. I'm always rooting for guys like Hayward, Roy, IT, etc. to find a role like Livingston did in GSW.

Revived wrote:

HaydukesRedux wrote:One of the higher dollar per minutes played players.

Nobody can beat Ben Simmons.

This was a fun exercise. I can't hate on a player for getting injured but not all of these DNP's were injury related. Anyway, these were the cost-per-minute leaders that I could think of looking up off the top of my head. Obviously, if we adjust for inflation some players from previous generations would jump up this list. And any rookie that never plays a minute costs infinite dollars per minute so I kept my search to larger contracts. There is a very real chance that Bronny is at the top of this list in a few years... but for now, Embiid is the King!

Embiid ($15.5K)
Simmons ($15.1K)
Zion ($13.3K)
Kawhi ($12.5K)
Porzingis ($12.3K)
John Wall ($12.2K)
Steph ($10.8K)
Kyrie ($10.8K)
Blake Griffin ($10.6K)
Michael Porter Jr ($10.6K)
Paul George ($10.5K)
Hayward ($10.5K)
Beal ($10.4K) ~ We'll see how this season goes.

tsirigoj wrote:Just a friendly reminder: LeBron was on year 7 during Hayward's rookie year.

Ambassador of what basketball was with defense 2000s toughest era all time to score

Crazy how everything played out for him. He was really good in Utah. Every team courts him during free agency. He signs with his college coach to try and create a new contender, and has the most gruesome basketball injury right away into his first game. A lot of times things just never fire on all cylinders after an injury. The moving around probably took its toll.

DAWill1128 wrote:Crazy how everything played out for him. He was really good in Utah. Every team courts him during free agency. He signs with his college coach to try and create a new contender, and has the most gruesome basketball injury right away into his first game. A lot of times things just never fire on all cylinders after an injury. The moving around probably took its toll.

Yep thought the same thing. Also thought how some players come back good after injuries and others not so much.

Would he have made more money if he never left Utah? Two more max deals?

DAWill1128 wrote:Crazy how everything played out for him. He was really good in Utah. Every team courts him during free agency. He signs with his college coach to try and create a new contender, and has the most gruesome basketball injury right away into his first game. A lot of times things just never fire on all cylinders after an injury. The moving around probably took its toll.

Well said, he was so fun to watch in Utah and when he went to Boston, really too bad that .