Shortly after his retirement, Gordon Hayward began to reflect on his NBA career. While he may have had the most unpleasant exit from the Utah Jazz, he still fondly remembers his time with the team.
In an interview with Jazz podcaster JP ChungaHayward had nothing but great things to say about his time in Utah. He praised the fans for their loyalty, even when he was playing for lesser Jazz teams.
“I mean that was one of the things that was so cool about Jazz…”@jp_chunga sat down with @gordonhayward to reflect on his incredible career in the league and his time with the Jazz. Listen #RoundballRoundup wherever you get your podcasts or watch now on YouTube 📺⤵️
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) August 21, 2024
In that same interview, Hayward admitted that the most fun year he had throughout his NBA career was his senior year in Utah, when he finally became an NBA star.
Clearly, despite the boos from fans at every turn since 2017, he holds no ill will from him. With nothing but positive things to say about his time with the Jazz, his comments raised the question: Is it time for fans to forgive Hayward after what happened?
Let’s get straight to the point, right?
Hayward’s Legacy With the Jazz, it’s complicated because as impressive as his evolution was in Utah, he left the team in terrible conditions, and it went beyond his simple departure.
Sure, it was heartbreaking enough to see him leave the Jazz, which Hayward admitted in this interview was a tough decision to make, but the way he left only made it worse. Because Hayward took his time making a decision, he, by extension, caused the Jazz to lose their replacement options in the process.
He ultimately ruined all their plans for the future by waiting so long to decide to leave the Jazz. Even though Utah did surprisingly well after his departure – which no one saw coming – he still cheated them.
In fact, looking back on what happened after Hayward left the Jazz, it’s harder not to be even more frustrated knowing what could have beenThe Jazz teams featuring Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were consistently good, but it felt like they were missing one final piece for a championship team, and it’s hard not to think that piece was Hayward.
There’s a good chance he could have had his number retired in Utah if he had stayed to build what could have been the best Jazz team since the Stockton/Malone era. Knowing he chose otherwise when he could have made it even more painful.
That being said, while Jazz fans are right to still be mad at him for what happened, they can always look back on his evolution and be amazed at how much he has improved. Things ended between the two sides in the most disastrous way possible, but that doesn’t negate his impact on helping the Jazz rediscover themselves as winners in the 2010s.
We shouldn’t take all that away from him, because he earned it. However, his praise for the Jazz can’t erase the damage he caused on that fateful July 4th.
Jazz fans have left the past behind with other stars who have departed, but knowing the manner in which Hayward left, it will take a lot more to get him back in their good graces.
