The Charlotte Hornets took plenty of heat when they decided making Gordon Hayward the centerpiece of their rebuild, signing the former Celtic to a four-year, $120 million contract.
Wednesday night Hayward offered a glimpse into what the Hornets saw in him.
Against the Hawks, the forward netted a career-high 44 points on 15-of-25 shooting from the floor. He made 4-of-9 three-pointers while going 10-of-12 from the foul line.
The game marked the first time Hayward had reached the 40-point mark, with his previous high sitting at 39 points.
In his eight games this season Hayward is averaging 18.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Hornets. He has reached double-figures in every contest, managing 20 points or better four times.