With one minute and 17 seconds remaining in the first half of Thursday night’s preseason contest between the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers, the rim at Portland’s Moda Center shook as if tectonic plates shifted below the arena.
Seconds later, Twitter spiked miles away from the epicenter in all diretions, and the NBA community was stunned by a massive dunk from Gordon Hayward that has been dubbed “The Hayward Hammer.”
But for those who have been listening to Utah’s freshly re-signed star this offseason, his massive dunk over the Portland Trail Blazers’ 6-10 center Joel Freeland wasn’t much of a shock.
“I’m able to kind of just bully some people a little bit more than I was able to,” Gordon said recently, explaining his offseason strength training regimen.
Late in the second quarter, G-Time’s offseason work was on full display. No. 20 took a handoff from Trey Burke at the top of the key, curved around the right side of the Portland defense and soared from the right block, throwing the hammer down over Freeland for a monster jam that gave the Jazz a 53-52 lead.
The Jazz went on to post a 109-105 victory, their second straight over last year’s No. 5 seed in the West. G-Time finished with 14 points, five dimes, four boards, a steal and a block.
The play and Utah’s overall performance in just their second game under head coach Quin Snyder put the teams of the Western Conference on notice that they may have to welcome another playoff contender into the conversation this season.
The national NBA community took notice as well, and came from far and wide to Twitter, to tell the story of Hayward’s hammer.
Utah's Gordon Hayward climbs the ladder and mashes on Portland's Joel Freelandhttp://t.co/JKPJgjUqCC pic.twitter.com/rQwkzhS9A2
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) October 10, 2014
GIF: Gordon Hayward throws down a monster two-handed slam vs. the Blazers http://t.co/FMthttJxyW pic.twitter.com/KTtJW2BNng
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 10, 2014
I like angry Gordon Hayward. I like him a lot http://t.co/A7Z6WLDYM4
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 10, 2014
Gordon Hayward Climbs Over Joel Freeland for Poster Dunk (VIDEO) http://t.co/88veJjv6zI pic.twitter.com/3p7iayUCTL
— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 10, 2014
Gordon Hayward throws it down on Joel Freeland (VIDEO) http://t.co/UWiREcY8Wy
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) October 10, 2014
Dunk Of The Preseason? Watch Gordon Hayward Embarrass Joel Freeland http://t.co/sFHPOSpzV7
— Dime on UPROXX (@DimeUPROXX) October 10, 2014
Whoa. RT @NBAcom: Gordon Hayward climbs the ladder & mashes on Joel Freelandhttp://t.co/wYPQz3aqz9 pic.twitter.com/bMovtXGkw7
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) October 10, 2014
WATCH: http://t.co/9Z6iwoO7g4 Jazz-Blazers first half highlights, including Hayward's dunk and @daanteee's 3! pic.twitter.com/8cRuqF4Jdw
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 10, 2014
That dunk by Gordon Hayward??????oh. my. goodness.
— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) October 10, 2014
like. Oh. My. God.
— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) October 10, 2014
I gotta say that again. Oh. My. God.
— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) October 10, 2014
Jazz fans may be seeing a different Gordon Hayward this year. I've been watching him since 2009. Easily the best thing I've seen him do
— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) October 10, 2014
Even before that dunk Gordon Hayward has been very very good tonight.
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) October 10, 2014
I like what I'm seeing. This could be a fun year. Gordon dunking on people wow.
— Ron Boone (@1041straight) October 10, 2014
I was driving home listening to @Lockedonsports call the game when The Dunk happened. Had to pull over and check my TL. Brilliant.
— Angie Treasure (@snark_tank) October 10, 2014
A better vid of the Hayward slam-and-stare. Worth a look. http://t.co/sdQhDPlgNs
— dan clayton (@danclayt0n) October 10, 2014
HAYWARD HAMMER!!!!!
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) October 10, 2014
THE BUTLER BULLY! RT @Mac_Jazz: little stare down at the end of that dunk. Niiice.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) October 10, 2014
ICYMI, or just want to relive it over and over, here's when Gordon Hayward traumatized Joel Freeland. https://t.co/5WmyxpXj6k
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) October 10, 2014
The Hayward hammer from @YourManDevine, although he doesn't realize Jazz went 9-7 in close games last year: http://t.co/cK5wjYNbhu
— Clint Peterson (@Clintonite33) October 10, 2014
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