Utah Jazz: The 50 greatest players in franchise history
By Matt Giles
All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 16 Gordon Hayward
- Seasons with the franchise: Seven (2010-11 to 2016-17)
- Regular-season games played: 516
- Averages as a Jazzman: 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks
- Shooting percentages: 44.4 from the field, 36.8 from three, 82.0 from the foul line
- Playoff games with Utah: 15
- Postseason averages: 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks
As a slashing and sharpshooting Jazzman, Gordon Hayward always seemed to be on the verge of full-fledged NBA stardom while playing for the franchise that drafted him No. 9 overall at the 2010 NBA Draft.
But more than half of the 6-foot-7, 225-pound versatile forward’s seasons in Salt Lake City ended with losing records. Plus, Hayward didn’t eclipse 20 points per game until his final Utah campaign in 2016-17 when he made his first and only All-Star Game.
His 21.9 scoring average that season still stands as his career-high. However, Hayward was approaching that mark this season, which is his first with the Charlotte Hornets after spending three years with the Boston Celtics, before spraining his foot two weeks ago.