Inches from Immortality: How Gordon Hayward and Butler Almost Toppled Duke

It's been said more times than anyone can count, but Butler vs. Duke in 2010 epitomized the David vs. Goliath tale.
But what if that script, that cliche, is all wrong?
In reality, the plot-line from this century's most dramatic title game went way deeper, way wider than a hackneyed Cinderella narrative. There is far more to the ending than the oft-replayed half-court heave from the tips of Gordon Hayward's fingers.
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[@wwfchriswwf]

Gordon has the look in his eyes of man who knows that he was almost immortal.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

He's got a second chance at immortality with the Celtics 🍀 Get you number into the rafters in Beantown and you'll never be forgotten 🏆

[@Astroloverboy]

icecreamforcrowhurst Is crazy how He is getting the opportunity again with his college coach

[@youmustberetarded571]

Lmao he probably won a state champ or something at some point I mean he's in the nba. He's immortal.

[@bean7675]

He also has a immortal handshake

[@allenreyes3969]

Lol jenkins won it at the buzzer and most people dont even care about him or even know him anymore

[@TheDeceptiveGaming]

"You can't ask us where we would rank as all-time underdog stories, because to us, we were supposed to win." Boston has one hell of a coach

[@razkable]

Gordon hayward avg 23 last season...shelvin mack his teammate on butler has been a solid nba backup for 5 years....and led them to the title game without hayward the next year ...if you have 2 nba player who play 5 years in the league then your not an underdog...stevens him self is a great nba coach...

[@clayderry9540]

Asmosis Jones that may be true but they were underdogs at the time

[@GreedisGood83]

This year will be his biggest test! Managing all the veteran talent, mixed w/the young stars who believe they earned their spot, and respect during last year's playoff run. Finding the right mix, rotations, and which 5 guys play best together to start game, at end of quarters/half, coming out of the half, (1st 5 mins) in 4th quarter, & down the stretch. Who meshes, who gets selfish, who can't handle pressure, who shots when they should pass, who makes that pass, or hustle play that makes the difference. Who can't make free throws consistently in big games, who dissappear when lights are bright, but shines on the 2nd night of a back to back????? These are some of the many? 's Coach will be asking himself as year progresses. It will be hard, but I think his approach, team 1st mentality, and defense is a must policy, will lead the C's to a finals appearance at the very least! Truth is the East w/out LBJ, is soft and no one should stop the Celtics from being Eastern Conference Champs. Anything short of that will be dissapointing, and force Danny Ainges' hand to make serious moves in off season. Yet I think Danny & Coach think they have the team they wanted, w/all the players healthy. If Gordon Hayward gets back into form as Season goes on, he should become a force w/Kyrie, Al, Tatum, Brown, & rest of crew! I expect this teams last 20 games to be a complete 180 from their first 20. (Which weren't bad results wise, but the eye test told you they weren't where they needed to be) Excited for April, May, June & Let's go Celtics!!!

[@cheezymonkey9150]

@@razkable .

[@kwameamankwah-ayeh1745]

It’s so funny that they’re together now

[@yanksrule305]

Hayward is smiling in the video but you can tell that shot still bothers him to this day. He's a hell of a player and the Jazz are a great young, rising team.

[@TheCaptainShadows]

He looks like he hates himself for it

[@williammitchell9409]

Hayward and the Jazz deserves their playoff spot, definitely more than the Rockets.

[@joniotto-bernstein337]

+William Mitchell They'll get it, but no chance they get out of the first round unfortunately

[@williammitchell9409]

Joni Otto​ That is because GSW is an impressive basketball team, 72-9 (they just beat SAS). Go Dub Nation. 

[@SuperOmegaish]

+William Mitchell *cough* bandwagon

[@0Architectdude0]

Brad Stevens is apparently 40.... He looks like he is a 19 year old Political Science Major at Northeastern Maine St. University or some weird ass college like that

[@carlscholl8400]

Blaque L

[@GCElite]

Blaque Brad Stevens played high school basketball with my dad in highschool no joke at Zionsville

[@predatorx5863]

GC Elite whats brads number

[@gmoore6129]

Zion williamson should join that team lol

[@hazardzone553]

hold the L

[@willowandluka5302]

Gordon is a straight up baller though

[@TheRedallen10]

bruh he got big over the time between college and nba

[@ShiningLike3M]

Just wish people would realize he's an All-Star

[@restplz11]

Shining Like 3M might be his yr if the jazz can make the playoffs

[@tomjordan7312]

+Nicholas Christian barring injuries he is an all star.

[@rewind4964]

he is an all star fr this season if not im going to be disappointed.

[@kolbe8189]

I can't imagine living with myself after being that close to winning it all

[@nickpissaris4213]

+Kolbe Perez 50 million would help

[@MrTevens]

+Kolbe Perez Thats where you have to separate life from sport.

[@JCT1926]

+Kolbe Perez but Wilt didn't that happen to you like a half dozen or so times?

[@November.Downcast]

You can see he is almost in tears in the video. I'm sure he has nightmares about it.

[@brendancarter3453]

+Kolbe Perez life goes on

[@wima13]

This was masterfully done. It gave me chills and almost brought a tear to my eye. Simply amazing

[@scag11]

Indeed.

[@bthebarber916]

agreed

[@jrg302]

definitely

[@dudemanismadcool]

agreed

[@bisondele6899]

do you think a white basketball player can be a superstar in the NBA like LeBron, Kobe?

[@Cjr1715]

Imagine he hit it, then hit a game winner in NBA finals to win it all. State championship, national title, then NBA finals, would've been called most clutch player ever.

[@adammurphy3919]

tru

[@MinneapolisLegend28]

But he couldn't be clutch

[@yezra8563]

He clutch AF though

[@swaggdocttaa]

paduaowned lol

[@josephac29]

draft hit? lmao i see one player on that Duke team in the NBA rn and it's Singler, who could easily be a white boy from Butler.

[@mateenhasanzada3538]

Plot twist Gordon takes his team to the finals and wins in game 7 after haunting memory

[@jayheavyrainer2141]

Faze Mateen Mateen Boston getting Gordon he might wanna play for his old coach

[@markmartir1923]

Heavy Rainer35 Thatd be amazing.

[@sergiozavaleta4521]

Faze Mateen Mateen if that happened against the cavs every lebron hater would bust in their pants.

[@mcr2dcr348]

Jay Heavyrainer21 you called that shit so hard

[@mateenhasanzada3538]

Jay Heavyrainer21 u my friend are from the futurw

[@9thchild358]

My favorite part of the play is not the shot but the absolutely devastating screen set by Howard.

[@chase7624]

hearing Coach K yell to Brian to miss the shot still gives me chills. you can feel the desperation of the moment

[@lhsbandfreak11]

It took me until later in the week after the game to understand why Coach K had Zoubek miss that free throw on purpose, but it made absolute total sense. Both of his starting post players had 4 fouls, they hadn't made a shot from the field for nearly the last 5 minutes of the game, and if Butler tied it, I think he knew Butler would win it because of all of that momentum plus the cold streak Duke was in. He made up his mind that the national championship would be decided in regulation one way or the other because in that moment, he knew there was no way they could go another 5 minutes with literally everything that would be working against them.

[@zehzaunm]

Basketball is such a beautiful sport..I miss my playing days so much, those that made it to play pro ball are trully blessed

[@gengar_nc7808]

zehzaunm you look like zaza shut up

[@balllife6369]

zehzaun glitch happened didn't mean to reply to your comment 😊✌️

[@stsensei312]

Aww Hayward looks so sad discussing this.

[@williammitchell9409]

I feel bad for him because he missed an opportunity to make all the blood, sweat, and tears worth it to get to that point. I like him as a player, he's a young rising star that I hope that will continue to improve.

[@El.Nigga.]

he needs to get the fuck outta Utah!

[@jhaz89]

@@El.Nigga. Utah is looking pretty good now...

[@adampatterson1624]

0:01 when she takes my pants off

[@dylangonzo1383]

Adam Patterson lil

[@TheNBAFreak]

Adam Patterson HAHAHAHA

[@brianscalabrine6198]

Adam Patterson hahahahahaha this funny as hell B

[@moopcity128]

Adam Patterson Holy shit that was hilarious

[@187crows]

me too #smalldickgang

[@filip1880]

Hayward is still one of the best clutch players atm

[@jstdun]

Really? 4 years ago was he really known as a clutch player in the nba?

[@boomboxcar7546]

@@jstdun lmao fr

[@Dannyjoeoconnor]

@@jstdun with the Jazz he was a beast

[@WNDRf00te]

"the greatest shot ever missed"

[@truthhurts837]

The greatest pick ever set.

[@ethanaday4076]

Eventually be one of the best untold stories

[@jefftX]

I can relate Gordon. I just missed a game winner in NBA 2k17. I don't think I'll ever get over it.

[@kushclarkkent6669]

lol and here's a reminder about that 5 years later. that shit gon haunt you the rest of your life😞

[@ronnietree3387]

Brad Stevens is arguably one of the best college basketball coaches of this era in my opinion

[@mercnsiku15]

Mason Jackson true made a mediocre team to an almost championship team

[@brianhill2171]

Mercidi Nsiku They weren't really mediocre though. Gordon Hayward is a borderline NBA superstar and Shelvin Mack is a very good NBA role player

[@bignizzle6973]

TheBDHShow true, but they did it again the next year without Hayward.

[@benjo40525]

Henry Jackson brad stevens is still a great coach turned a mediocre Celtics ( last year) to conf. finals

[@carlbernardo8564]

did it again this year too

[@enzokawabata223]

Clarck Kellog's voice here is different from his 2k voice

[@nubbyneef1068]

Enzo Kawabata fax

[@allwecanseeisaboveusnow]

Only a real athlete would understand the intensity and feeling that is put into that final shot. I can play a pick up game and miss the last shot and I'll think about that shit the whole week.

[@fathertime9958]

This is something my wife does not understand!

[@brucewayne8546]

at least hayward the most successful out of them

[@jameslacey9402]

Bruce Wayne shelvin Mack is in the NBA on the the same team too

[@alexeastland1165]

Mason Plumlee is kinda successful.

[@aZebruh]

Bruce Wayne yeah by far

[@Shane-ox6re]

Alex Eastland he said most successful and Plumlee isn't even top 10 in centers in west lol

[@alexeastland1165]

+Shane My comment wad in response to IAmZebra's where he said "yeah by far". Hayward is the most successful, but Plumlee is still a good player (I think he is top 10 in the west)

[@jazmobile4]

More of these please, countless CBB moments that need to be done like this masterpiece. -ALL CBB FANS

[@Chayoteyokyo]

0:18 You can tell he's still dying inside from that shot to this day

[@docofswank88]

Singler flopped like he got hit with a shotgun

[@BrokeMalone]

yeah i dont think tht was a flop... game on line dude he was goin 100% tryna play d and got laid out

[@amieriddles]

Jonny Love That Howard fool was big af and Single was sprinting as hard as he could, still funny tho lol

[@amieriddles]

Singler*

[@Nile15rush_fj]

Jonny Love lol that Howard guy destroyed him truly...white on white collision

[@kidcudi908]

he look like ricky from boyz n da hood

[@mattbogoshian4769]

This was my favorite natty that I've ever watched, I remember thinking that the shot was going in too

[@mercnsiku15]

AZCardinals 4 Life too me I knew that he was going to miss

[@jackman9035]

AZCardinals 4 Life U must have missed UNC vs Villanova

[@jackman9035]

Mercidi Nsiku u sound dumb AF

[@1TotalJabroni]

Jack man - storyline and build up to Butler/Duke was way better than that game. David vs Goliath. Way more intriguing and entertaining than 2 powerhouse programs.

[@jackman9035]

Jacob Taylor So that's best story not best game

[@omghobobob1924]

What if he made it. How would everything change. Would he be drafted earlier for what ever reason. Would he have never broken his leg

[@v1ral-clip183]

OMG HOBOBOB Bro Just imagine

[@truthhurts837]

He still would have been flying around the rim catching lobs and pissing off racist nba players. And they still would have taken him out.

[@samsts7682]

I live within 5 miles from Butler. I remember this moment like it was yesterday. Broke my heart back then.

[@gaudiofan]

damn. 3 inches away from the greatest play in college basketball history. wow.

[@montenegrin2011]

Great story. Hayward is a special talent, when I first saw him I said he's the Hoosier Manu Ginobili.

[@devincatbagan3034]

"everybody else has to be the judge of that. Because to us, we were supposed to win." I absolutely love this quote. Celtics have a bright future with Stevens at the helm

[@monstercookie658]

7 years and hasn't forgotten. He really wants to win banner 18 for Stevens.

[@ibrendank5541]

:(

[@chocolatechipslime]

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already since Butler made their run to the tourney. Time flies

[@fbistatmajor5918]

Gordon makes that shot and every woman in that school has his child by 2011

[@krantinebhwani6125]

I love Gordon Hayward but damn he seems to know well how large 3 inches is (start of video)

[@YSeize10]

Kranti Nebhwani gay

[@oopalonga]

hahahaha funny as fuck man

[@Play1nWithFire]

Lame

[@nextgenwellness]

I was so sad after the game😭

[@alexeastland1165]

Says the Notre Dame fan????

[@nextgenwellness]

***** yea, it was nice to see a fellow Indiana team make a nice run I was hoping they would pull it out

[@user-lh1ei8ip6m]

I'm Duke fan. I was loving life!

[@jprice4919]

+JV 15 👊

[@sergiozavaleta4521]

lol singler was ready for the NBA with that flop

[@TheFlowBrothers]

Jon Cole more like a harden fan

[@truthhurts837]

Full speed game on the line face into a brick wall shoulder. No flop.

[@giovannicarbajal2200]

Glad to see Gordon and Brad reunited for about 5:10 seconds this year

[@alexcollins3142]

one time i missed a game winner that i should've made and that stuck with me for a little while until in my league championship game that same year... i hit the game winner from the same spot that i missed the last one

[@caseycdecker]

This is a phenomenal feature. Easily the best Bleacher Report content I've come across.

[@STpikkle]

Butler deserved to win

[@Vibestr]

then he should have made those shots he missed when the game was on the line

[@michaelchua8775]

dcbadooky128 deserving is not a thing in competition it's either you earn it or you don't

[@MrWayne-zs3gs]

\/ibestr It would have been better if Butler won.

[@Eyiza]

lol they are straight pussies if they keep talking about the past

[@dogwaterl]

dcbadooky128 y did they deserve to win

[@JustinRiray]

This is one of the best basketball story videos I've watched. Got the feels all the way through.

[@xezu7700]

"He came into my office right after the game and said 'that's the shot I missed against Duke'..."

[@egh2155]

Whoever edited this video deserves a raise , great video !!

[@lilboat3232]

You can see the pain in his eyes man

[@Broba_Fett]

I remember watching this game and standing up the most of the game. Gordon Hayward was a baller than and he still is. One of my favorite players to watch even when he balls up my Lakers.

[@stopplzs]

I got goosebumps watching this

[@peterbestofthebest7199]

Really well done, B/R! This video really told the story. I felt like I was there.

[@kylebrehm5]

still watch this to this day and i still can’t believe how close that was to going in.

[@lonewulf44]

Man ... still gives me chills. Love Stevens, Love Gord, and that shot would have been the greatest play ever ... I still watch it and just want to will it to go in.

[@mariofranklin9898]

I never knew that was Gordon Haywood till this day

[@austinfull8941]

Who's Gordon Haywood?

[@Al3jandr0101]

Austin Full you're a savage lol

[@wima13]

Every time I watch this I hope it goes in and every time it breaks my heart

[@kd1234543]

So good. Best Bleacher Report piece ever.

[@Hello_Jerry_]

I was at Duke and this was during my final year. I'll never forget this shot and I was convinced it was going in. Obviously, I'm glad it didn't, but I became a huge Butler/Hayward/Stevens fan that day.

[@bryceece]

At that moment I had never felt my heart go so high and then drop so low at the same time.

[@JaffytaffyBTC]

Great video with perfect music build up! Luv ya B/R!

[@YourPlug1]

7:22 that tore me up and I wasn’t even on the team.. I can only imagine.

[@merlincalo6877]

Great story, hearing both side like that make those last 13 seconds seem like an eternity. What a gamble by Coach K at the end, and coach BS he has such a winning mentality. Those two shots by GH were so close, what a season for Butler.

[@Slim545]

Still get teary eyed to this day

[@kountz6355]

Every time I see this video in my recommend I watch and I enjoy it even more than the last time

[@cademoore9376]

I was watching this live great game loved watching every bit of it

[@notinbutnet036]

Favorite all-time national championship hands down. I still wish that he hit that shot to this day, it would've been the one of the greatest moments in basketball history.

[@dmbkersh]

I was waiting tables in the lounge area of the restaurant I worked at at the time. I remember this vividly. I also gave pretty terrible service this night. Well, pretty good service considering. I ran to the back hollerin because I was so pumped/relieved. Incredible championship game.

[@IamCceeLL]

Gordon hayward fan here

[@coachwire8827]

At 6:36 after Gordon Hayward says "I missed the shot... that's what happened" he looks like he's about to kill himself out of internal anger

[@therenegade1680]

Here after his injury. Prayers up☝ #PrayforHayward

[@JaylinAAllen]

This is a really good documentary

[@hunteresteves560]

i watch this video every few months now it’s been 10 years to the day

[@allenyabadoodah6542]

Man this video made me anxious as hell!

[@tonatiuhcortes9968]

You can tell he was on the verge of tears..

[@andrewaggus8757]

I was at this game, and Hayward's last-second miss was one of the saddest moments of my life..

[@karikaeruace9378]

i remember this game i live in arizona and my dad is a big time underdog team follower he loves to see teams that are unknown or not very looked at win championships i remember going for butler too and started yelling when he missed that final shot i was heartbroken even thou i wasnt a bball fan at the time

[@wesleyt4109]

For me certainly the most memorable missed shot ever. I remember watching it live on vacation in Las Vegas at a black jack table. I, like almost everyone else there, were pulling for Butler.

[@Hunter-ns1hm]

Watched this 3 times already

[@tpstrat14]

“It’s a game we should’ve won by 8 or 10 points” what a disrespectful weasel. Glad they included that quote

[@byMisfit]

Coach K the goat timothy

[@tpstrat14]

@@byMisfit didn’t say he isn’t a great coach

[@MattBravado]

I remember this game like it was yesterday. I was a senior in high school rooting for Butler all tourney long and was crushed when they lost. Its a shame when the greatest moments in sports don't happen.

[@ACM-tg9rs]

The pain deep down in Gordon’s eyes. It hurts to see

[@theobush439]

“If that shot goes in I’m gonna get killed”

[@fakeshake234]

I watched this game and when he let go of that shot I felt like it was in. It just felt like it was good, the moment, the story behind Butler's run, it just felt good. And then a moment later I was like WHAT THE FUCK.

[@Probablythe1]

gj bleacher report. Great Story!

[@rob97dani]

Prayers to Hayward! Hope he comes back strong! 😥🙏

[@bignizzle6973]

We've seen Cinderella teams get to the Final Four and get clobbered, while Butler really belonged there, as they proved by beating the best teams to get there and then nearly winning it all.

[@graysonclements8705]

Smh Kyle singler flops so hard

[@drakestan2553]

Stfu

[@CeREaLBoWLAsSaSSiN]

+Unc Basketball unc players need to flop to real classes

[@Aussieduderivs1]

+Peyton Hammond L

[@lovescars]

+Unc Basketball fr

[@tylerwestphal7387]

I don't know man singlet ran right into that big boy

[@kadepatton4009]

I remember that game like it was yesterday. A game I will never ever forget. That shot Hayward made really truly was that close to going in.

[@jsmiller0605]

Man I’m still so sad about this and the fact the next year without him butler made it all the way back to the final and most again .. 2 amazing ribs

[@rapiglive]

This almost made me cry😓😓

[@dy120481]

Why didn't they bring up the amount of ridiculous calls Duke got?

[@crawfish19]

dy120481 or the ridiculous calls Butler got. They went both ways. Just get over it and accept that Duke won.

[@lhsbandfreak11]

@@crawfish19 That was probably the most physical championship game I've seen. I mean, I remember one play where Hayward hip checked a Duke player in mid-air going for a rebound and nothing was called. That was an absolute war out there, which made for a great game. It was a game where however that shot ended, the beneficiary of that shot making or missing deserved to win the game

[@Andy-ux4lm]

I can't watch this it kills me every time #godawgs

[@Slownut]

You can tell it still haunts him today

[@runningwithdrew9881]

I'm a duke fan and was at this game and have so much respect for him because he played amazingly

[@multiplemike]

Gordon, the pain of losing a championship is something that many champions must endure. But it is a powerful learning tool. You have proven yourself to be a great player. Please come to the Celtics and reunite with your old coach. And may the two of you win a championship together in Boston. Come to the green, it is destiny!

[@marchondublin5323]

I don't even have to watch the video to know how it almost happened. two words: Brad Stevens

[@perry.672]

He's a good coach actually

[@marchondublin5323]

+did Hami He's a phenomenal coach, top 3 in the NBA & is for sure a coach do the year candidate. Do you see what he's doing for the Celtics? That team has no more talent than the magic & they're competing for third in the east while the magic are in the bottom 5.

[@youngprince8982]

+did Hami great coach *

[@perry.672]

+Kevin Hate yeah he's definitely going to be one of the greatest coaches adding the fact that he's still young and can lead the Celtics to being a top team in the east for the future

[@StonyHeatbag]

Great vid.

[@sesamestreettv]

great video

[@WTDProductions]

i remember listening to this game on the radio, and the commentators saying he threw it from half court, then incoherent yelling....man if that went in...

[@Nick-qg1sc]

"inches from immortality" Me when I was about to stick it in

[@coolguy09ful]

I still get chills seeing that last shot

[@troyr1901]

This really makes me appreciate Gordon Hayward even more

[@jimpaulmojica8102]

Who's watching this after Gordon got injured

[@Rando_fly]

He should go to Boston👏👏 huge bond with Brad Stevens

[@paulmejer653]

Ratul Miah Jae crowder and a future first round pick for Gordon Hayward

[@landerval7882]

Paul Mejer i'm a jazz fan, fuck no!

[@trollmau566]

Ratul Miah I would trade Smart for Hayward

[@paulmejer653]

Adrien Le Cam it is a trade that might happen if the jazz start to do bad, because Gordon Hayward wouldn't go back to a team that isn't a contender, during free agency. So instead of loosing Gordon Hayward and getting nothing in return, they could acquire two great assets for the future, and clear up some cap space. But that's only if the Jazz do bad

[@paulmejer653]

Trollmau5 in my eyes that is a horrible trade. The only good in it is the clearing of cap space for free agency. That trade wouldn't make sense for the Jazz, since they already have George Hill and Dante Exum as their starting and backup point guards. Plus, they loose star small forward. All they get is a Point Guard that they don't need.

[@brianchavez5445]

This is beautiful :,)

[@mrbananasist]

that last line... chills