Former Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward announced on Aug. 1 that he’s retiring from the NBA after 14 seasons.
In a statement shared on X, the 34-year-old said he looks forward to “new adventures and challenges” and spending more time with his wife and children.
“I want to thank God for giving me the grace and privilege to play this game and allowing me to bring my best each and every day,” Hayward said.
Noting that there were too many people to name individually in his statement, he only gave a special shout-out to his close relatives while expressing gratitude to everyone who helped him achieve “more than I ever imagined.”
The former NBA All-Star thanked his coaches, teammates, trainers, doctors, friends, and family for supporting him “through countless years and cities, helping me exceed my own expectations.”
“A special shout out to my mom and dad—my biggest fans—always cheering me on with unwavering support; my agent, Mark Bartelstein—the best in the business, a pillar of sanity through countless phone calls before and after games, my kids Bernie, Charlie, Nora, and GT—you have been my inspiration, encouraging me to keep playing even when I could have been at home with you; and the biggest and most important thank you to my wife, Robyn—without you I don’t know where I’d be,” Hayward wrote.
“To all my fans: thank you for supporting me through the ups and downs,” he added. “I’ll always cherish the letters of encouragement and the moments we’ve shared around the world. You inspired me to always dream big and improve everyday—and for the young players up next, I challenge you do to the same.”
Career Highlights
In 2010, Hayward was the 9th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He played seven seasons with the franchise until 2017, when he was selected for the 66th edition of the NBA All-Star Game on Jan. 26, 2017.
He continued his career with the Boston Celtics that summer, but suffered a leg injury in his first game for the Celtics. Following the season-ending injury, Hayward never fully reattained the All-Star form he had achieved with the Jazz.
After three seasons with the Celtics, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 2020 before being exchanged to the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this year.
Throughout his 14-year NBA career, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 835 career regular-season games.
“It’s been an incredible ride,” Hayward said in Thursday’s statement. “God has blessed me with an amazing journey, one that has taken turns I couldn’t have expected or dreamed of as a kid,” he added.