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There’s no other way around it: Gordon Hayward’s broken hand is awful. For Hayward. For the Celtics. For the NBA.
Through the first eight games this season, Hayward was the player the Celtics hoped they would have and had never really had since his season- ending leg and ankle injury in his debut in the first game of 2017- 18. He slogged through last season, making one wonder if he would ever return to the player he was.
Finally, Hayward looked like the player he was in 2016- 17 when he made the All- Star team for the first time.
He was back, averaging 18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists and shooting 55.5% from the field and 43.3% on 3- pointers this season – numbers that taken in their totality equal a career year, the kind of stats that earn a player an All- Star appearance.
His bounce was back, his strength was back, his shot was back – all the way back from the devastating injury. He was one of the NBA’s feel- good stories, until Saturday when Hayward suffered a broken left hand after running into San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge.
Hayward had surgery Monday to repair a fourth metacarpal fracture in his left hand and is expected to miss approximately six weeks.
Hayward should come back as the player he was before the injury.
Still, the injury robbed Hayward of a joyous season. After all of the arduous rehab and the frustration of not returning to who he was on the court faster than he wanted, Hayward was off to a great start. Not just All- Star level, but high- end All- Star. And this injury could cost him an All- Star spot.
“I just told him to keep his head up,” Stevens told reporters after Boston’s victory against San Antonio. “At the end of the day, that’s all you can do. He’s worked hard. He’ll be in good shape. He’ll keep himself in good shape, and he’ll be ready to go when he gets back.”
Yes, it could’ve been worse. It’s not his knee, ankle or leg. It’s not his shooting hand, and it’s not a Steph Currytype injury that will keep him out for three months.
“This one doesn’t feel nearly as bad as it did two years ago,” Stevens told reporters. “He’ll be back. He’ll be off for a few weeks or a month or whatever he is.”
Still, the Celtics will miss him. Going into Tuesday, they were second offensively and eighth defensively, 8- 1 and in first place in Eastern Conference.
On a team with scorers, Hayward had four 20- point games, including a 39point, eight- assist, seven- rebound game last Tuesday at Cleveland – where the disastrous injury happened two years ago.
In the short term, it means more responsibility for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who are both having strong seasons, and increased opportunities for players such as Carsen Edwards, Semi Ojeleye, Javonte Green, Brad Wanamaker and Grant Williams.
The Celtics can manage without Hayward until he returns, at least enough to stay among the top four in the East.
And it would be wonderful if the AllStar performances and joy returned with him.