How Good Was Gordon Hayward Actually?

When it comes to some of the most underrated wing men of the last 15 years, Gordon Hayward is one of the many players that you’ve probably forgotten.
Retiring after 14 seasons in the NBA, Hayward could’ve been one of the best players at his position because he has size, skill, charisma, and work ethic. But things didn’t pan out for him, especially after a career-altering injury. Still, people often forget just how good he was during his peak. And that’s something we’re going to look at.
Gordon Hayward’s life was all about overcoming the odds because he wasn’t the best player growing up. He was a multi-sport athlete playing tennis and basketball in high school. In fact, before his senior year, he was probably looking at a tennis career because he was better at that sport.
But a growth spurt changed his life. With guard skills that he honed when he was just 5’11”, Hayward grew to his mature height of 6’7” before his senior year. This allowed him to stand out during his final year in high school, winning awards and championships while averaging 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Despite the massive improvements he saw in his game, he was just a three-star recruit who didn’t get offers from some of the largest college programs in the country. He decided to accept Butler University’s offer, allowing him to play in the NCAA for a mid-major program that didn’t have the history of success that some of the other teams had.
Fortunately, he was playing for the young head coach Brad Stevens, a coaching prodigy who helped Butler overcome the odds. From a struggling team, Butler reached the 2010 National Championship game, becoming the darling of the country before losing to Duke. He nearly made a heave that would’ve given Butler the championship. But Hayward’s solid performance that season allowed him to gain the attention of many NBA teams despite his status as an unranked prospect entering college.
He didn’t stay with Butler long enough to have another shot at the title because he knew that his ultimate destination was the NBA. Hayward joined the 2010 NBA Draft, where he got selected 9th overall by the Utah Jazz. At that time, the consensus about him was that he was a solid wing who could make shots from the perimeter and stretch the floor. The star potential wasn’t there but the Jazz hoped that he could become a capable starter in the future, especially with his ability to create perimeter shots.

свернуть