Gordon Hayward’s Mind-Numbing Numbers

Any regular readers of PnB will know we’ve been behind Gordon Hayward the whole way. We find ourselves penning more and more about him all the time, because of course, when you have a player knocking on the door of the elite that’s what you do. It’s a thrill to watch, and frankly we can’t get enough of the guy.

When writing the other day about Gordon Hayward, I neglected to include a couple of key elements of the improvement in his game that had been a part of the discussion: Consistency and increased strength.

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So, Gordon Hayward goes out and reminds us of the neglectful oversights with his first career back-to-back 30 point games, taking over tilts with the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans to tally a two game total of 62 points on 51% field goals and 49% of 13 three-point field goals. It’s the first time in nearly four years a Utah Jazz player has posted back-to-back 30 point games, Al Jefferson being the last to do so in 2011.

Gordon Hayward’s line of 32 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals versus the Pellies has only been matched this season by Stephen Curry,  Russell Westbrook, James Harden and DeMarcus Cousins — all All-Stars.

It’s the seventh time this season Hayward has posted at least 30 points in a game, and in five games in the month of February, Hayward is averaging 24.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting .561 field goals overall and a staggering .526 on three-point shots.

Gordon Hayward in 2010 and after adding some 20 pounds in 2014

When we said Gordon Hayward was poised to join the elite last July after signing his new max contract with the Utah Jazz, we meant it. That piece generated the most comments of any since — most of them pretty nasty to the author, myself, and Hayward, indicating in harsher parlance that we were up in the night if we thought he could count himself among the best. It’s exciting to witness his growth and maturity into a full-blown elite NBA player,backing up that payday.

He’s throwing haymakers out there. What we’re witnessing is the birth of a star in Utah, the emergence of Gordon Hayward as elite

Gordon Hayward believes himself to be elite — he’s said it since last summer, and said it again to radio voice of the Utah Jazz, David Locke, in the pregame before playing the Pelicans. And he’s proving that every penny of that max deal is a steal. For the season Gordon Hayward is averaging 19.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 46% field goals, joining a list of elite players that includes only LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin in 2014-15.

Adding some serious muscle has created a new facet to Gordon Hayward’s game with an ability to drive through traffic and finish like a freight train through snow.

Drop the railroad crossing guard rails and hit the lights. Hurry!

Added strength is contributing to his ability to be more consistent, a fact he cited to David Locke on 97.5/1280 The Zone at shootaround before his second consecutive 30 point game, crediting an increased balance and a stronger core for the betterment we’re witnessing.

He’s throwing haymakers out there.

What we’re witnessing is the birth of a star in Utah, the emergence of Gordon Hayward as elite. Doubt him at your own peril, because few have done what Gordon Hayward is doing. And the scary part is, he’s not even peaking yet for another few thousand NBA minutes.