Gordon Hayward, who recently retired from the NBA, has opened up about his brief stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In an interview with Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Hayward questioned why the Thunder traded for him in February 2024, given the circumstances surrounding the move.
Hayward was acquired by Oklahoma City despite recovering from a calf injury that had sidelined him since December 26, 2023. Reflecting on the trade, he expressed confusion about his role on a team that was already thriving. “In my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Why do you guys need me? You’re doing fine,’” Hayward said. He added that Thunder general manager Sam Presti assured him they needed his experience and skills.
Despite the Thunder’s enthusiasm, Hayward’s role remained limited. The forward noted that while he had been performing well before the injury, he struggled to regain form with the Thunder due to a lack of playing time. “I’m not getting a chance here, I’m not doing anything. I’m not necessarily doing much wrong, but I’m not doing anything right because I’m playing such limited minutes,” he explained.
Hayward’s Thunder debut came on February 22, 2024, against the Los Angeles Clippers. He played sparingly in the game, recording four rebounds in a 129–107 win. However, his minutes were consistently limited, and as the season progressed, he found himself on the bench more often than not. In total, he appeared in 26 games for OKC, averaging 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 17.2 minutes per game.
His frustrations grew as his role diminished, leading him to question the purpose of the trade. “It got to the point where I wasn’t just playing at all, so it was like why did you trade for me?” Hayward recalled.
The Thunder, meanwhile, continued their successful run, securing the top seed in the Western Conference. With a young and dynamic roster, Oklahoma City exceeded expectations, clinching their first division title since 2016 and advancing to the playoffs. Despite their impressive regular season, the Thunder were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks.
Hayward’s time in Oklahoma City ultimately ended without much fanfare. In August 2024, he announced his retirement from professional basketball. Reflecting on his career, he finished with solid averages of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
The trade marked the end of Hayward’s injury-plagued career, which included stints with the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, and Charlotte Hornets before landing with Oklahoma City.
