NBA
Gordon Hayward’s Anticipated 2018-19 Return
One of the storylines of the upcoming season is the anticipated return of Gordon Hayward. Hayward, who was supposed to be the guy to help the Boston Celtics contend, got hurt opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was supposed to be his spectacular debut with the Celtics.
It turned out to be a horrifying, traumatic game-changer. Less than ten minutes into the game, Hayward goes up to block a shot by LeBron James and landed hard. He suffered a dislocated left ankle along with a fractured left tibia. It was a devastating way to debut with the Celtics, who signed him during the 2017 free agency period.
Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Al Horford were destined to be the new big 3 for the Celtics. In a heartbeat, that tragic turn of events would change everything. Irving and Horford would aid the Celtics young roster to develop much earlier than expected.
Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum would become effective their sophomore and rookie seasons stemming from the loss of Hayward. A tragedy that the Celtics were able to recover from, they ended up finishing second in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics would get to the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Cavaliers in seven games.
Hayward Ready To Return
Hayward has successfully rehabilitated and is ready to return. He has been active via social media revealing his return for the 2018-19 season. He’s been preparing for this moment since his injury occurred. He’s been working hard and refused to give up. His mentality was positive, and it kept him focused during his recovery. He committed himself and refused to give up on himself. It’s been a long hard road to recovery, but Hayward is proving to the league that he will return stronger than ever.
Working with @drewhanlen and the @puresweat guys to get back! Slowly but surely making progress day by day, week by week!
?: samlimon_ https://t.co/iAMJLjtyuV
— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) July 21, 2018
Hayward’s in the gym and practicing again. His leg is holding up, and he’s able to move as if he hadn’t suffered an injury. It’s great seeing him moving in the right direction throughout his rehab. It’s exciting to imagine how well the Celtics will do this upcoming season when his anticipated return for the 2018-19 season becomes a reality.
Expect the Celtics to have a big chip on their shoulders this upcoming season. They know if Hayward and Irving were healthy, they would’ve likely faced the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. With Hayward’s return next season, expect a revitalized and very focused Celtics team.
