I’m sure most of you didn’t decide to spend your Wednesday evening watching the Atlanta Hawks play the Charlotte Hornets. Sadly most Hornets fans don’t even get to watch the team play either. Shoutout to the league pass for blacking out local games. But if you happened to stumble onto this game you got to witness a career night from Gordon Hayward. Hayward was made of money all night, with a new career-high of 44 points. Let me say that again. Gordon Hayward scored FORTY-FOUR FREAKING POINTS! Say what you want about his contract, right now he’s playing as he deserves it.
The Career Night
The Hornets were hot as a unit early in the game. Leading by 24 at halftime, the Hornets looked to be unstoppable on their quest of only beating good teams this season. But one player had more than just a win on his mind. Gordon Hayward also had buckets on the brain. Scoring the most points he’s ever scored at any level of his career, Hayward managed to stay more humble than I ever could.
“I never scored 40 in high school,” Hayward said before giving credit to his teammates. “People were finding me all night.”
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30665701/powered-gordon-hayward-career-high-44-points-charlotte-hornets-outlast-atlanta-hawks
What a guy, right? All about the team first, while he’s dropping buckets and beating your favorite team.
Numbers Don’t Lie
The success for Gordon Hayward this season wasn’t just in the game against Atlanta. Hayward is averaging 21.9 PPG, 5 RBS., and 4.4 ASTS on the young season. His shooting has been outstanding from all over the floor this year. Posting a 49.3% overall FG percentage and 36.4% from the 3pt line. But his strongest stat, in my opinion, is from the free-throw line. Hayward has a 90% average from the charity stripe. That seems pretty good to me.
A lot of season left to be played. However, Gordon Hayward is showing all the haters that the man can still hoop. Hayward is proving he’s worth the contract, and I must agree. But if everyone could say a prayer to the basketball Gods for Hayward to stay healthy, that would be great.
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