Although he bares the look of a man that would likely use an axe to settle a disagreement, Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder has a soft side, and he showed it by way of penning a heartfelt letter for former player, Gordon Hayward.
A part of Snyder's statement published on NBA.com:
“Speaking on behalf of my staff, we are very proud of his growth and development as a player into an NBA All-Star, and are also appreciative of his contributions. Gordon’s progression epitomizes the partnership that we believe is the cornerstone of our player development emphasis and philosophy.”
Before becoming a free agent this summer, Hayward played seven seasons for the Utah Jazz, including three years in which Snyder was calling the shots from the sidelines. Hayward put up 15.7 points and collared 4.2 rebounds per game as a Jazz and blossomed into the All-Star that he is now during his time under Snyder, who has done a fantastic job in overseeing Utah's resurgence in the Western Conference over the past few seasons.
Perhaps it could be said that Hayward's ascent into becoming a legitimate NBA star was as much credit to Snyder as Hayward was to his former mentor in terms of helping Snyder get the recognition as one of the best in the business today.
Snyder understands that Hayward's decision to leave him and Utah was a hard one for the forward but at the end of the day, he's still grateful for the years he and Hayward have shared in Salt Lake City.
“He is a unique competitor and I am thankful for the opportunity to have coached him over the last three seasons,” Snyder said in a statement. “I believe this was a difficult decision for Gordon and Robyn and their young family, and one they reached earnestly.”
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