The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward:
After sustaining an apparent injury to his left hand during today’s practice at Zions Bank Basketball Center, Hayward underwent further examination this afternoon at University of Utah Health Care’s Orthopaedic Center. Following the examination,Jazz physicians Dr. Travis Maak and Dr. Douglas Hutchinson determined that Hayward suffered a fracture of the fourth finger on his left hand.
Hayward will undergo additional evaluation by the Jazz medical staff and further updates will be provided when appropriate.
Known for his versatility and durability, Hayward (6-8, 226, Butler) is entering his seventh NBA season, all with the Jazz, and has appeared in 443 of a possible 476 career games (335 starts) and owns career averages of 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals in 30.8 minutes. Hayward is one of just five players in the NBA to have amassed 4,000 points, 1,000 assists, 1,000 rebounds and 300 three-point field goals since the start of the 2013-14 season (Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James, Kyle Lowry). He appeared in 80 games (all starts) in 2015-16, registering a career and team-high 19.7 points along with 5.0 rebounds and team-leading 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals. The 26-year-old career Jazzman was originally selected by Utah in the first round (ninth overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft and is one of just three Jazzmen in franchise history to increase their scoring averages in each of their first six seasons with the team (current teammate Derrick Favors and John Stockton are the others).