Gordon Thanks Garden Faithful

It was supposed to go better than it did. In 2017, All-Star Gordon Hayward joined his former Butler University Coach Brad Stevens in Boston with the goal of winning an NBA World Championship title. Unfortunately, just five minutes into his first game as a Celtics player, Hayward suffered a season-ending injury. He returned mostly as a bench player after the lost year. The 2019-20 season saw Hayward closer to his old form with 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, but another injury cost him most of the 2020 NBA Playoffs in the Orlando bubble. After signing with the Charlotte Hornets that offseason, Hayward acknowledged his uneven tenure in Boston with a social media post: “I know there were some ups and downs, but I will always cherish my experience in Boston. I am forever grateful that I was given the opportunity to wear a Celtics uniform and play in front of the Garden faithful.”