Gordon Hayward
As with Gobert, numbers don’t really do Gordon Hayward justice. At 22 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and one steal per game, with percentages of 46.5 (FG), 39.1 (3PT) and 87.0 (FT), he’s very clearly one of the most versatile players in the Association. For me though, it’s all about Hayward’s look.
When you see him on the court, he looks like a superstar. The way he walks, talks and moves on the floor is akin to what we see from the league’s elite. Hayward has reached that rarefied air of players whose very presence demands the attention of opponents and teammates alike. Moreover, he’s acquired the ability to will his team to wins.
Never has this been more evident than in Utah’s recent win over LeBron and the Cavs. When LBJ scored 13 points in the third quarter to fuel a 17-0 run and capture the lead, Hayward took it personally. He responded with an 11-point quarter of his own, sparking a 16-0 run by the Jazz to reclaim the lead and take the win.
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Does he still have the occasional off night? Sure. But even when his shot isn’t falling or he’s a step slow on defense, he finds other ways to be effective. It’s what star players do…and Gordon Hayward is a star player.
Grade: A-