Celtics’ Hayward working hi swayback
WALTHAM, Mass. — Gordon Hayward has been able to spend time with his daughters since his injury, though the 1- and 2-yearold girls aren’t sure what to make of the fact that he’ s around so much more.
“They know Daddy has a ‘ booboo,’ ” the Boston Celtics forward said Thursday in his first news conference since a horrific opening-night injury that is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season. “I have a scooter at home; it’s another toy for them to play with. Another thing for them to get hurt on.”
Less than three weeks after breaking his left leg on the court less than six minutes into his Celtics career, Hawyard limped out onto the team’s practice court with crutches to talk about the injury and his plans for the season. Unwilling to put a timetable on his return — his agent has said it won’t be this year — Hayward will instead spend his time rehabbing, helping the coaching staff and “chair-shooting,” just to keep his eye sharp.
“I’m on the road to recovery,” he told reporters .“It feels good to talk in front of you guys and to get out of the house a little bit.”
An Indianapolis native who stayed home to play at Butler, Hayward played the first seven years of his NBA career with the Utah Jazz before agreeing to a fouryear ,$128 million deal to reunite with Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens in Boston. But in the first quarter of the season opener against Cleveland, Hayward landed awkwardly and crumpled to the court with his left leg bent at an unnatural angle.
To fly back to Boston with the team that night, Hayward had to be carried up two flights of stairs onto the plane. It took four people, and Stevens insisted on helping.
“There was probably 20 people there. But Brad wanted to make sure he was one of the people who carried me up the stairs ,” Hayward said. “That’s just the type of person he is.”
The next night, while the Celtics played their home opener without him, Hayward had surgery to repair a broken tibia and dislocated ankle. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he is expected to make a full recovery but“it’ s very unlikely he’ ll play this season.”