7) Gordon Hayward Is a True Superstar
For years, one of the biggest questions facing Jazz Nation has been whether or not the team could win big without a big star. Although the Jazz continue to be a team whose sum is greater than the whole of its parts, the truth of the matter is that they’ve actually found their star.
It’s Gordon Hayward (duh!).
When Hayward returned strong from a broken finger earlier this season, I said it was the new normal. In the ensuring weeks, he’s continued to prove me right. On the year, Hayward is averaging 23 points, 6.2 rebounds and nearly four assists per game. That’s probably the best Jazz line since a certain letter carrier was winning MVPs.
Speaking of which, in Utah’s game against the Kings, Hayward became the first Jazzman since Karl Malone in 2001 to score 20 or more points in 10 consecutive games.
That’s not just consistency. It’s superstar production.
Next: No. 6