Gordon Hayward retired at 34, which is a pretty young age for someone of his caliber. Even though the former Utah Jazz star wasn't playing at nearly the same level he did back when he played for Utah, he was still good enough that it wouldn't have surprised anyone if a team signed him to a veteran's minimum deal.
That's true even now. Hayward could feasibly sign with a team gearing up for a playoff run next month, and a move like that would not only be accepted but praised. While talking with RG.org's DJ Siddiqi, Hayward was asked about the prospect of coming out of retirement, and he did not mince words.
“No chance, man,” Hayward told Siddiqi. “I'm enjoying life right now. I've got four beautiful children, one on the way, another baby boy on the way. I'm enjoying life and couldn't be happier.”
Hayward's decision makes a lot of sense
On the one hand, even if his brief tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder was disastrous, Hayward is still good enough that a team would have absolutely given him a flyer at the very least. On the other hand, had he continued his NBA career, he would have entered the phase where he likely would have become a journeyman and played for a new team every year for substantially less than he had previously been paid.
That phase is not necessarily enjoyable for players, even if they appreciate still getting to play on the world's biggest stage in professional basketball. They would then have to move year in and year out. This can especially be true for players like Hayward, who stuck around with the teams he played for for a while, sans OKC.
It's tough for players with families to uproot them and take them somewhere new to keep their careers going. Especially if they find a new place every year. In the former Jazz star's case, he had already made over $300 million over his 14-year career. It may not have been worth bringing his loved ones into a new situation every year for just a few extra million after making plenty.
This isn't to suggest that the notion of becoming an NBA journeyman is exactly what swayed Hayward to retire from the NBA. As he said, he's enjoyed being at home with his wife and kids, and it makes all the sense in the world that he'd prefer being with them instead of on the hardwood floor when he's already set for life and then some.
It's just that no one would blame him if the notion of playing for a new team every year for another few years didn't hold much appeal to him.