Starting the season in the inactive list was no easy task for Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, who's been lighting up the stat sheet after missing the first six games of the season with a dislocated finger.

The six-year forward has been averaging 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists through 18 games as his team has managed to survive a myriad of injuries to reach the seventh seed in a very competitive Western Conference with a 15-10 record.

While there's still plenty of games for a very talented Jazz team to make a push for the playoffs, the organization wants to show the Butler alum it has the potential to turn into a contender with the pieces in place.

Hayward could be looking at a rather robust contract come free agency at season's end. The 6-foot-8 small forward is posting Paul George-type numbers and can be rewarded accordingly.

“It comes down to where I can compete for a title,” Hayward told ESPN's Zach Lowe. “Where I live — that doesn't affect me. The limelight doesn't matter to me. I just want to make a run at it.”

Gordon Hayward could be a great asset for any team and while he does make a great fit with Utah's core of young players, he's pretty much a plug-and-play into any NBA offense with his unselfish, well-rounded style of play.