Getting To Know Lazar Hayward
Who is Lazar Hayward?
That’s the question many of you probably are wondering after learning tonight that the Thunder has acquired him from Minnesota.
A quick YouTube search yielded three videos I think might help answer that question. All three are of Hayward prior to his pro career. But each one is telling. In the first clip, pay close attention around the 1 minute, eight-second mark. Hayward gives an answer that probably would make a GM like Sam Presti — who loves character guys — want to guarantee him a roster spot for the rest of his career. In discussing how playing out of position in college impacting his NBA prospects, Hayward dropped this gem.
Some people would say I have a pretty good attitude because most guys don’t like playing out of position in their college career. But that wasn’t a problem for me at all. I’ve always put my teammates first, and whatever my teammates need to win I’ll be that guy.”
Now that’s my kind of guy! Call it love at first sound bite.
But what also stands out about Hayward is his maturity. He carries himself extremely well and appears to be a supremely confident young man who’s comfortable in his own skin. That makeup probably translates to the court, where Hayward knows both his role and his limitations. He clearly sounds like a tough-minded, team-first guy, and you can bet that is a big reason why this deal got done.
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