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SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz basketball team is closer to adding a new member. With the ninth pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft, the team added Gordon Hayward of Butler University to its roster.
KSL's own Tom Kirkland spoke with Hayward shortly after the pick was announced:
Related:
Jazz take Hayward at No. 9 in NBA draft
The Utah Jazz made their highest draft pick in years, then immediately had to defend it.Gordon Hayward: "The visit out to Utah was very good. [I] got a chance to walk around, and it was a very nice city. You know, I'm very excited to be drafted by them (Utah Jazz). I'm blessed, and can't wait to get out there."
Tom Kirkland: "Do you feel like you have something to prove coming in here? I don't want to belabor the fact that the fans were booing because they wanted a big man, but do you come in here with a little bit more to prove then just your first NBA job?"
Gordon Hayward: "I think all rookies have something to prove. The veterans are going to come at you. They are going to head hunt you 'cause your a rookie, so you got to go out there and show that you belong, and that's what I'm going to do. It starts with a lot of hard work and dedication."
Tom Kirkland: "How do you come in here and turn the fans around?"
Gordon Hayward: "I think you show that on the court, you do whatever you can to help the team win. As long as you do that and get those victories, I think you can turn them around."
Hayward will be in Salt Lake City Friday for his first press conference.
