News broke on Thursday afternoon that one-time All-Star Gordon Hayward is retiring, leaving Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George as the lone player standing from the 2010 NBA Draft.
A class highlighted by John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and George is an exception to the surrounding drafts. 2009 still holds strong with stars such as Stephen Curry, James Harden, and DeMar DeRozan while Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving represent 2011.
George appears nowhere near calling a quit after averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals with the Los Angeles Clippers last season. He is gearing up to contend for an NBA championship alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in his 15th season in the league. His extensive postseason experience, paired with his three-level scoring ability, has the potential to vault Philadelphia over the hump.
Hayward, the No. 9 pick, shared his thoughts on retirement, writing, "Today, I am officially retiring from the game of basketball. It's been an incredible ride and I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than l ever imagined. From a young age, my favorite bible verse has always been: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Phillipians 4:13. I want to thank God for giving me the grace and privilege to play this game and allowing me to bring my best each and every day."
Not only is George representing himself next season, but also his entire draft class following Hayward's retirement.
