One of the most exciting two-way players in the NBA, Gordon Hayward has made impressive strides athletically since departing from Butler in 2010. While Hayward has always been a reputable player defensively, his offensive output has steadily improved over his professional career, making him a coveted asset that can contribute in a multitude of ways. After signing a max contract with the Boston Celtics on July 4, Hayward has finally reaped the financial benefits of being a consistently great talent. Given Hayward’s hefty pay day, the essential question remains of how much is the dynamic All-Star actually worth?
Gordon Hayward’s Net Worth as of 2017: $185.3 Million
How did the prolific shooting guard get there? And how have Hayward’s numerous on the court accomplishments contributed to his newfound wealth? Let’s find out.
2010-2015
After being selected with the 9th overall pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2010 NBA Draft, Hayward immediately displayed his commitment to being a consummate team player. Despite playing sparingly for the Jazz initially, his accuracy from three point range (47%) eventually earned the the young small forward more minutes as the season progressed. Hayward ended his rookie season with the Jazz by scoring 34 points against the Denver Nuggets on April 13, a feat which would be become expected from Hayward as he continued to develop.
2011 saw Hayward develop into a more prominently featured scorer as he started in 58 games during the regular season (started in just 17 games in 2010). Although Hayward’s perimeter shooting took a significant hit percentage wise (34.6% from the perimeter), he more than doubled his scoring output from the previous season (5.4 PPG in 2010, 11.8 PPG in 2011). Defensively, Hayward was able to utilize his underrated athleticism to garner nearly a steal per game.
While Hayward only started in 27 games during the 2012 season, he saw his reduced role as an opportunity to prove himself as a resurgent two-way player. In 72 games, Hayward was able to re-elevate his shooting percentage from three point range (41.5%) and raised his points per game average to 14.1. As a result of his impressive consistency, Hayward was selected to participate in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. After being drafted by Team Chuck, Hayward scored 14 points en route to helping his team win the event.
With the departure of Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson during the 2013 offseason, Hayward finally had a golden opportunity to become the Jazz’s go to offensive threat. While his adeptness as a scorer was unsurprising (16.4 PPG), his dramatic improvements as a cerebral ball facilitator (5.2 Assists per game) and as a elite defender (1.4 steals per game) put Hayward on the map as a truly versatile talent.
During the 2014 offseason, Hayward received a offer sheet from the Charlotte Hornets that was worth $63 million over four years. The Jazz quickly matched the offer and re-signed their coveted franchise player. After his significant pay day, Hayward never wavered on the court as he averaged 19.3 PPG and started in every game he appeared in during the regular season.
The 2015 season was a impressive continuation year in terms of his consistency on the court as a superb two-way player. He started in a career high 80 games during the season and put up 19.7 PPG during the season.
He reportedly earned $14.7 million in 2017.
2016-Present
Despite missing the first six games of the season with a fractured finger, Hayward was completely determined to continue improving into a top player in the NBA. He set career highs in points per game (21.9) and free throw percentage (84%), making him one of the most clutch scorers in the league. Hayward was also able to carry over his regular season numbers into the post season as he scored 24.1 points per game along with 6.1 rebounds per game in 11 starts.
While the Jazz valiantly tried to keep Hayward on their roster for the foreseeable future, the allure of playing for a highly competitive Boston Celtics team proved to be too much for the top free agent to pass on. He signed a hefty contract that will keep him in Boston for four years worth $127.8 million.
Although Hayward’s departure from the Jazz was more or less expected, knowing that the beloved small forward will be officially playing for a championship contender is immensely exciting. Given the lack of parity in the NBA in recent years, it’s intriguing to see that other franchises are now finding unique ways to build their own super teams to compete with Cleveland and Golden State. While it is still unknown how much better the Celtics will be after signing Hayward to a max contract, it seems all but certain that the Cleveland Cavaliers will no longer be able to easily dispatch a team that will now be proficient on both offense and defense.
He reportedly earned $16 million during the 2017 regular season.
