Gordon Hayward Sparks Controversy: Reflecting on Turbulent Celtics Past

In a recent episode of Paul George’s podcast, NBA star Gordon Hayward stirred up headlines by offering his candid assessment of the 2018-19 Boston Celtics. Despite his remarks, it appears the veteran forward hasn’t caused a stir in the Boston sports scene.

Hayward delved into the team dynamics during the 2018-19 season, emphasizing that winning wasn’t the primary focus for a squad brimming with talent. The Celtics concluded the regular season with 49 wins but suffered an early playoff exit in the second round. Hayward pointed out that players, including franchise cornerstones Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, seemed more focused on personal agendas than collective success.

Although Tatum refuted claims of locker room issues during that season, he largely concurred with Hayward’s perspective. In an interview with The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, Tatum expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, acknowledging the challenges of meshing a talented roster.

“Yeah, that (expletive) was terrible,” Tatum admitted. “We’ve all talked about it. It didn’t work out how we wanted it to, and we were a very talented team, but it just didn’t mesh the way we wanted it to. And that’s all right. Guys learned, and everybody’s moved on from it. But what Gordon said was kind of right.”

Tatum elaborated on the struggles, citing players returning from injuries and the desire to prove themselves individually. Despite the difficulties, he emphasized the learning experience and the team’s ability to reach the second round.

Team owner Wyc Grousbeck also didn’t dispute Hayward’s assessment, acknowledging a lack of cohesion within the team. However, Grousbeck commended the organization’s resilience, highlighting their subsequent achievements.

Since the challenging 2018-19 season, the Celtics have rebounded, making it to the Eastern Conference finals three times in the first four seasons afterward and coming within two wins of a championship two campaigns ago. While Boston still faces hurdles, including the upcoming spring season, the team appears poised for success.