'Gordon Hayward, aged 34, announces retirement following 14-year career in the NBA'
Star forward Gordon Hayward announced his retirement on Thursday after 14 seasons in the NBA with four different teams.
The 34-year-old Hayward had an average of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 835 games (649 starts) from 2010-24.
In a post on social media, he wrote, "It's been an amazing journey and I am grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than I ever thought possible."
Hayward split the 2023-24 season between Charlotte and Oklahoma City, with an average of 9.8 points in 51 games (28 starts).
Throughout his career, injuries plagued Hayward, causing him to play 52 or fewer games in each of the last five seasons and missing almost the entire 2017-18 season due to a fractured tibia.
"To all my fans: thank you for supporting me through the highs and lows," Hayward shared. "I will always cherish the letters of encouragement and the moments we shared around the world. You inspired me to dream big and improve every day - and for the young players coming up, I challenge you to do the same!"
Hayward began his NBA career as the ninth overall pick for the Utah Jazz and earned his only All-Star selection in 2016-17 during his seven-year tenure with the team. He then went on to play for the Boston Celtics (2017-20), Hornets (2020-24), and Thunder.
In the postseason, Hayward had a career free-throw percentage of 95.0% (113 of 119), the highest in NBA history with a minimum of 100 attempts.
Originally from Indianapolis, Hayward made a name for himself by leading his hometown team, Butler, to the 2010 NCAA Tournament championship game against Duke. In a close match, his half-court shot at the buzzer just missed, and Duke won 61-59.
