Gordon Hayward discusses his decision to join the Boston Celtics

Gordon Hayward reflected on his 2017 free agency move to the Boston Celtics in a recent interview. The forward noted the difficulty of the decision, citing a public campaign by Utah Jazz fans as part of the pressure he faced. Hayward ultimately decided to join the team to reunite with his former college coach, Brad Stevens. He pointed to the depth of the Boston Celtics roster, which included Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford at the time, as a deciding factor. Additionally, Hayward stated that the competitive of the Eastern Conference influenced his choice compared to the talent-heavy Western Conference. The move marked the end of his tenure with the Utah Jazz, where he spent his early career before moving to Boston to play for his former Butler coach.

• 9:37 PMYahoo Sports — Gordon Hayward on what convinced him to sign with the Boston Celtics