Gordon Hayward is ready to lead the Utah Jazz


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SALT LAKE CITY — Gordon Hayward was mobbed by the media in late September. It was the first time journalists would be able to talk to the 24-year old swingman since he had signed a $63-million contract.

“When you sign that long term deal it kind of takes the burden off you a little bit…it sort of gives you relief,” he said in an Indiana drawl.

Hayward almost seemed relaxed even though he’s the team’s highest paid player.

“I feel that I’m one of the elite players in the NBA,” Hayward said. And Hayward believes that accolades could come in the future as the team improves.

The product from Butler University tantalized fans last year with a few games. He scored 37 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 7 assists in a game against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. But he struggled to be “the main man” in former Coach Ty Corbin’s system. He averaged 16 points a game and shot 41% from the field. But that didn’t stop Charlotte from signing him to the offer sheet that spelled out the terms of his current contract. The Jazz matched that offer and Hayward was on his way back to the team that drafted him.

Hayward claimed his agent handled the situation with the Jazz and Hornets and didn’t know if he would eventually move to Charlotte.

“(I’m) just blessed to be back here in Utah,” he stated.

A week after the scheduled picture and media day, Hayward played sparingly in the team’s open scrimmage. But he didn’t think it was a waste of time. He thinks it was good to play in front of fans and work some kinks out. And it gave him time to show off his leadership skills to his fellow players.

“I think guys looked up to me tonight,” Hayward said.

Rookie Dante Exum is extracting anything he can get with Hayward.

“It’s just the little questions that you ask…and (the vets) letting you know what’s up,” Exum said.

Hayward is relishing the role of being the grizzled veteran.

“It is fun being leader of the team,” he stated before their last pre-season game. “It’s interesting how quickly it happened.”

He said he’s even raised his voice a few times because the head coach can wear down the young guys.

New head coach Quin Snyder liked what he saw from Hayward in the leadership category before the regular season. But he wants more.

“We don’t need Gordon to play it safe, we need him to let it out,” Snyder said.

The final preseason game against the Phoenix Suns may have been the perfect precursor to what we can expect from Hayward this season. He scored 24 points while shooting 66%. He went to the free throw line 9 times. He tied for the team lead in assists with 3 and even grabbed 5 assists and a steal. And most importantly, he stayed aggressive. But Hayward knows he will have to do that almost every night to justify the money he is receiving.

“I’m sure people will always have questions for as long as I’m in this league,” Hayward said. But he added, the pressure he puts on himself is much greater that what fans put on him. I am a reporter and producer for KSL Newsradio. I am also a co-host on Cougar Sports Saturday. I've worked for KSL since August of 2001.

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