When Gordon Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics, rookie forward Jaylen Brown was starting to show flashes of the player he would one day become but was still far from that player as well at that point of his career. Later that offseason, the Celtics drafted Jayson Tatum out of Duke as well, setting the team up for success that came sooner than most — including Hayward — expected.
And a freak injury just minutes into his tenure with the storied ball club opened up a space for both to take on a much bigger role with Boston than anyone expected, roles that might have helped them become the players they are today. The Butler alum opened up about that era of his career and his early impressions of the Jays in a recent interview with Noa Dalzell of the “You Got Boston” podcast. “I knew they were good,” said Hayward. “I didn’t know they’d be this good.”
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“They were both so young, but a little bit raw — but unbelievably talented,” he added. “I can remember playing in a pickup game in the fall the year I got there, and JT had every shot that you could have, however young he was, 19 years old, which was really impressive.”
CANTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: From left, Jayson Tatum #0, Jaylen Brown #7, Kyrie Irving #11 and Gordon Hayward #20 talk together during a photoshoot on Boston Celtics Media Day on September 24, 2018 in Canton, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“Most of the time you have some deficiencies early on, but he could score at three levels in a pickup game against pros,” continued the Butler alum. “And, obviously, I got hurt that year. But one thing I remember sitting out is that there wasn’t a moment that was like too big for him, even at such a young age.”
“And, you know, we went to the Eastern Conference finals that year, and he played a major role. Kyrie (Irving) got hurt and it was like, ‘OK, I think we got something here’.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Gordon Hayward on what he saw in Brown, Tatum in first year with Celtics