Utah Jazz small forward Gordon Hayward knew it would take something different to go from being the best player on the team to All-Star recognition.

The 26-year-old saw a career-high in scoring last season with 19.7 points per game, but had only made microscopic improvements in his overall game, making his 2015-16 season a testament of consistency, rather than improvement.

Hayward started from scratch with his offseason routine — he tried boxing to help his footwork and balance, practiced spinning in a complete circle on one leg, tapping the floor, then spinning back the other way to improve his agility and flexibility. He'd stand on one leg, move the other one in and out and try not to fall over, he hit the weight room even harder.

He even started watching film of his own workouts.

“I wanted to see: Am I doing it right every single time?” Hayward told ESPN's Zach Lowe. “I think there is a still a big leap for me, and I want to get that out of myself. I couldn't do the same stuff I've been doing every summer. I wanted to be uncomfortable.”

He reached out to Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant to see if the retired superstar could spread some knowledge in the craft that is the mid-range game. Hayward ended up spending a week with Bryant in Newport Beach, picking his brain and dissecting every detail he came across.

“He's one of the best to ever do it,” Hayward said, “and it was one of my best weeks ever.”

The results are undeniable, the 6-foot-8 forward has been nothing short of spectacular in 19 games with the Jazz, attaining career highs in scoring (23.3 points per game), rebounding (6.4 rebounds per game), and free-throw shooting (88.6 percent).

As his team gets players back from injury (Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors made their return during Wednesday's 109-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder), Hayward will spearhead the Jazz toward enough wins to garner his All-Star nod come February.