Enes Kanter Wonders If Jazz Fans Will Boo Him Or Gordon Hayward More
Feb 21, 2020, 1:35 PM
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, Mass. – A pair of former Jazzmen will be playing at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday, February 26 when the Boston Celtics face the Utah Jazz.
Former Jazz center Enes Kanter is in his first season as a member of the Boston Celtics. He and Gordon Hayward will play their only game in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
Kanter hosts a podcast that is posted on YouTube called the “Enes Kanter Show” that is hosted by NBC Sports Boston Celtics beat writer Chris Forsberg.
Forsberg was wrapping up the show when he brought up the upcoming four game road trip for the Celtics that includes a stop in Salt Lake City. Kanter interrupted Forsberg and asked him about the trip to Utah.
“I wonder who will get booed more, me or Gordon?” Kanter asked.
“Do you think they (Jazz fans) will boo you?” Forsberg replied.
“WHAT? Every time I touch the ball they boo me. I feel so good this year because I have Gordon (Hayward),” responded Kanter.
Kanter was drafted by the Jazz in the 2011 NBA Draft as the third overall pick. He played in Utah for three and a half seasons when he demanded a trade and was sent to the Oklahoma City in 2015. Since then, Kanter has played four teams since he departed from the Jazz. This season, Kanter is averaging 9.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and one assist per game.
“The people in Utah are great but the crowd can be tough sometimes,” Kanter mentioned.
Hayward was a big part of the Jazz since he was selected by Utah with the 9th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He played seven seasons with the Jazz before signing with the Celtics as a free agent in 2017.
Since joining the Celtics, Hayward has played just one game in Salt Lake City due to suffering a horrendous leg injury in the first game of his tenure in Boston in 2017. He faced the Jazz on November 9, 2018, where he finished with 13 points and 7 assists but the Jazz beat Boston by eight points at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Hayward is averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this season for the Celtics.