Celtics forward Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome ankle injury just five minutes into the season. While the physical pain had to be immense, Hayward said something else has hurt even worse.
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“Definitely the depression," Hayward said Thursday (AEDT) on the Dan Patrick Show, via nbcsports.com . "It’s been painful, but it’s nothing like sitting around watching the team you were supposed to be playing with this year. I signed to play for the Boston Celtics this year now to only sit and watch the Boston Celtics this year. That part has been difficult and much more difficult to deal with than the pain.”
Hayward signed a four-year $128 million USD contract this offseason to be reunited with his former Butler coach Brad Stevens. The first year of said contract will likely be spent on the bench, but Hayward is still holding out hope for a late return this season.
“I work out every day to try to increase my range of motion and increase my strength in my legs so that I can be back as fast as I can," he said. "Whether that’s this year or this summer or next year, I will just let that happen. But for sure, as a competitor, I’m just trying to come back faster than anyone has ever done it.”
The Celtics (26-7) lead the Eastern Conference by 2 1/2 games over the Cavaliers despite suffering through a number of key injuries.
Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Morris (still injured) have all missed time this season. While Hayward's return this season remains a long shot, he's clearly doing everything he can to get back out onto the court.