Former All-Star Gordon Hayward retires after 14 seasons

Former All-Star and lottery pick Gordon Hayward is retiring from the NBA, he announced Thursday.

The Utah Jazz drafted Hayward ninth overall in 2010, and he played the first seven seasons of his career with the franchise. His final campaign in Utah was the best of his NBA tenure, averaging 21.9 points per game.

Following that year, Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics, though he suffered a season-ending leg injury five minutes into his first appearance with the team. He played two more years in Boston before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

Hayward started 167 of the 168 games he played in Charlotte from 2020-24 before being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder at last year's trade deadline. The veteran was barely used in OKC, playing under seven minutes per game in the playoffs and going scoreless.

The 34-year-old is perhaps best known for his illustrious college career at Butler, where he and head coach Brad Stevens led the then-mid-major program to the national title game against Duke in 2010. Butler fell by just two points, and Hayward had one of the most famous missed shots of all time, a half-court prayer that nearly won it for the Bulldogs at the buzzer.

Hayward finishes his career with averages of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 45.5% shooting and 37% from 3-point range across 649 regular-season appearances. He also suited up in 36 playoff games across five postseason runs.