Gordon Hayward has retired from the NBA after 14 seasons, on Thursday. His most memorable moment was almost giving Butler a national title over Duke. It was a half-court shot that just missed on the final play of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball championship game.
Hayward played for the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, and Oklahoma City Thunder. He was an All-Star in 2017. Gordon averaged 15.2 points in 835 career regular-season matches. And he said he was looking forward to spending quality time with his family.
“Today, I am officially retiring from the game of basketball,” Hayward wrote on social media. “It’s been an incredible ride and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than I ever imagined.”
Hayward expressed gratitude to his parents and family and his agent Mark Bartelstein. Additionally, he thanked his coaches, teammates, trainers, doctors and friends for supporting him. His letter read, “through countless years and cities, helping me exceed my own expectations.”
“To all my fans: thank you for supporting me through the ups and downs,” Hayward wrote. “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 to do the same.”
