On Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, Boston Celtics’ small forward Gordon Hayward suffered a traumatic leg injury in the team’s season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers after going up for an alley-oop pass, colliding with LeBron James, then falling uneasily on his left leg. It has been confirmed that he endured a dislocated ankle and fractured tibia, which was tended to on Wednesday, Oct. 18 in surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Mass. Hayward will most likely miss the rest of the season.
Hayward’s injury came just 6:48 into the first quarter of his first game with the Celtics to which every player, coach and fan locked eyes on immediately. The gruesome distortion of his ankle made the viewers cringe and Hayward cry for help from the sideline. The Boston bench huddled and expressed their sympathy for their teammate – Irving noticeably crying and sheltering his head in his teammates’ arms. Cavs players such as James, Isaiah Thomas, Dwayne Wade and Tristan Thompson displayed heavy emotion towards their opponent, clearly aware of what is at stake for the 27-year-old.
After team medics on sight set Hayward’s ankle back in place to relieve his excruciating pain, he was taken off the court and into the locker room on a stretcher, with the entirety of his left leg in an air cast for support. Inside, he received X-rays immediately. Several teammates and even Thomas and James followed Hayward into the locker room where they exchanged words of encouragement.
Celtics head coach, Brad Stevens mentioned after the injury that Hayward and the team were unsure about any type of recovery timeline. However, after medical treatment, Hayward’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, made a statement that he will most likely be unable to return to the Celtics for the 2017-2018 season.
Hayward signed a $128 million contract in the off season with the Celtics along with fellow All-Star, Kyrie Irving, which is why the opener against the Cavs was so anticipated across the NBA and its fans.
At the Celtics’ home opener on Oct. 18, Hayward addressed the TD Garden crowd from his hospital bed prior to surgery in a video message that played before the game:
What's up, everybody? I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers, I'm going to be all right. It's hurting me that I can't be there for the home opener; I want nothing more just to be with my teammates and walk out onto that floor tonight. I'll be supporting you guys from here. I wish you the best of luck. Kill it tonight.
Several players across the NBA took to social media on Tuesday to express their support and condolences towards Hayward:
Hayward and the Celtics hope for a full recovery.
