How Celtics and Jazz players reacted to Gordon Hayward’s decision
After a chaotic Fourth of July that was chock-full of both confirmed and denied reports that Gordon Hayward had elected to sign with the Boston Celtics, the news is finally official that the Utah Jazz forward plans to join the C’s next season.
As he had during much of the lead-up to Hayward’s decision, Isaiah Thomas took to social media to feed into the drama surrounding the story. Soon after the announcement was leaked on Twitter by ESPN’s Chris Haynes, the Celtics point guard tweeted out his classic eyeball emoji:
https://twitter.com/Isaiah_Thomas/status/882303399345172482
His wife, Kayla, also shared a video of Thomas dancing to Drake’s song “Big Rings.” As he jumped around — presumably celebrating the acquisition of his new teammate — the lyrics playing in the background are: “Cause I got a really big team, and they need some really big rings.”
When you’ll be teaming up with Gordon Hayward next season: pic.twitter.com/qe79zkrNnq
— ESPN (@espn) July 5, 2017
Once Hayward formally publicized that he would in fact be joining the Celtics, Thomas tweeted out an official welcome:
https://twitter.com/Isaiah_Thomas/status/882388352439398403
Keeping with the theme of wanting to win a championship, he told ESPN that he’s “excited and can’t wait to get to work,” calling Hayward “the type of player we needed to get to the Finals.”
Isaiah Thomas on Gordon Hayward to ESPN: “The type of player we needed to get to the Finals. I’m excited and can’t wait to get to work.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2017
Al Horford and Marcus Smart both also reached out via Twitter to embrace the newest member of their team:
Ahora es! 💪☘️welcome @gordonhayward
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) July 5, 2017
What a celebration on this 4th of July! 🇺🇸☘️@gordonhayward Congrats and welcome!
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) July 5, 2017
Jaylen Brown echoed the positive sentiments during an interview at a Summer League practice in Utah on Wednesday. Calling the move one that was “great for the Celtics,” Brown said that he thinks Hayward wanted to be a part of a team that “wants to win and doesn’t settle for less.”
Jaylen Brown on Gordon Hayward joining Celtics: “Exciting times.” pic.twitter.com/MxRIogjEGf
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 5, 2017
However, Celtics players weren’t the only ones to react to the news on social media, as a few Jazz players shared their thoughts, too. While fellow Butler alum Shelvin Mack issued a congratulatory message to his former college teammate…
Congrats to the guy @gordonhayward 😉😉😉😉
— Shelvin Mack (@ShelvinMack) July 5, 2017
…newly acquired Ricky Rubio tweeted out a disappointed emoji face…
😔
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) July 4, 2017
…and Jazz center Rudy Gobert waved goodbye on his Instagram story to the lyrics, “These hoes ain’t loyal,” from Chris Brown’s song, “Loyal.”
https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/882408602660503552
