Gordon Hayward suffers gruesome leg injury on Opening Night
By Ian Levy
Gordon Hayward’s first season with the Boston Celtics is likely over after less than six minutes.
Less than six minutes into the first quarter of the Celtics Opening Night matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gordon Hayward made a back cut and went up to try and catch a lob from Kyrie Irving. Hayward collided in the air with LeBron James and landed awkwardly. He stayed on the floor as the play continued. At the first stoppage, Boston’s medical staff came sprinting off the bench and a brief shot on the television broadcast showed Hayward sitting on the floor with the lower part of his left leg clearly broken and his foot bent at an awkward angle.
The video is too graphic for us to embed but if you feel the need to ruin your night, it’s here. Again, please be really sure you need to see it.
The injury clearly shook the players on the floor, both teams stood around in shock for several minutes before the Celtics regrouped in a team huddle on the bench. Hayward left the floor on a stretcher. We have not yet received any updates on his injury but it’s hard to see how this wouldn’t end his season.
[Ed. Note — The Celtics later announced a diagnosis of a fractured left ankle. One can assume we’ll eventually hear more detail.]
#NEBHInjuryReport: After a medical evaluation by Celtics/Cavs medical personnel Gordon Hayward has been diagnosed w/ a fractured left ankle.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 18, 2017
Hayward was the prize of the Celtics offseason (Kyrie Irving addition notwithstanding). Last season he 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Utah Jazz, making his first All-Star team. He signed with Boston this summer, reuniting with his former college coach Brad Stevens, and his versatile wing play was expected to be a huge piece of the Celtics’ present and future.
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Hayward likely has a long road to recovery ahead of him but fans and players around the league will be pulling for him. It may be cold comfort but Paul George suffered a broken leg that was, at least aesthetically, similarly catastrophic and he has largely been able to return to his previous form. Here’s hoping that a similar fate awaits Hayward.