Gordon Hayward has long been a fan of and participant in the game of tennis, and this week he had dusted off his racket to play for a good cause in the annual Of Love Tournament at the University of Utah.

Basketball was always G-Time’s first love, but at one point in his life, the Brownsburg, Ind. native thought tennis might be his destiny, and his ticket to a collegiate athletic scholarship. Now, between basketball and fatherhood, tennis has taken a back seat, so the opportunity to play in the Of Love Tournament, and to support juvenile diabetes research, was one he couldn’t miss.

“I’ve been invited to play in this tournament for a couple of years now, and this is the first year I’ve been in Utah for the summer, so I had the opportunity to play, and I knew it was for a good cause, so I decided to come out and see what I had,” Gordon said.

The tournament, hosted at the George S. Eccles Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Utah, is held in memory of Ardene R. Bullard, who was passionate about tennis and finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. The non-profit tournament sends all its proceeds to the search for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Gordon cherishes the opportunity to support that cause, as well as the chance to get back out on the tennis court and compete.

“I’ve hit probably two or three times, so I’m definitely still rusty, but I feel a lot better than when I first picked up a racket. I’m just excited to go out there and have some fun,” Gordon said. “It’s been so long since I’ve played, I’m just playing to have some fun.”

To learn more about the Of Love Tournament or to make a donation, visit OfLoveTournament.com.