With one of the biggest moves in free agency, Gordon Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics. He’ll have a huge impact on Boston’s offense that was only dominated by 5’9 Isaiah Thomas (28.9 PPG). Now that Hayward is a Boston Celtic, the only dilemma was figuring out what number he may wear if Boston is still mulling whether they’ll retire Ray Allen’s no. 20 in the future or not.
That was all put to rest after the Celtics’ twitter account posted this on Friday:
Gordon Hayward has worn the number 20 ever since high school, then to his alma mater, Butler University, as well as his team before signing with Boston, the Utah Jazz. It may have been in his demands when signing with them, but Hayward just may do more wearing that number than Allen ever did.
In Boston, Ray Allen played 5 seasons and was a 3-time All-Star and a champion in 2008; with averages of 16.7 points per game, 47.2% field goal percentage and 91% free throw percentage.
Hayward has gotten better with every season, earning his first all-star game appearance this season, while averaging a career high in almost every stat: 21.9 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game and 47.1% field goal percentage.
SB Nation
To say Hayward will have a better career than Ray Allen is preposterous, Allen was regarded as the greatest three-point shooter of all-time, until Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson changed the whole dynamic of the NBA.
The only thing within reach for Hayward in regards to Allen’s career, is being a better player than him in a Boston uniform. Hayward’s averages should be a lot better than Allen’s in Boston, and if they can knock off Cleveland, he could start a new era in basketball, by becoming the most dominant team in the East, giving Golden State some new problems to deal with in the NBA Finals, going up against Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum & Al Horford.
It’s unclear if Kevin Garnett of Boston’s big three will see his no. 5 retired, after only spending one more season in Boston than Allen did. One thing is forsure though, we won’t ever see another player in Boston wearing Paul Pierce’s no. 34.
