Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward appears to be doing just fine while on his road back to full recovery from a devastating leg injury he suffered during the regular season opener.

In a photo captured and posted on Instagram by Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, Hayward could be seen standing beside a pool no longer sporting an ankle brace.

It is important to note here that Hayward did not participate in the friendly swimming contest between the Celtics' skills trainer Jason Smeathers and the team rehabilitation manager Stephen Mount. All he did was watch the contest – and probably cheer for Smeathers, whom the injured swingman coached.

Still, this is definitely a good sign for the Celtics, who remain to be a very competitive team despite not having the services of Hayward. As of this writing, the Celtics are comfortably atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 33-10 record. The Celtics are also on a six-game winning streak.

Hayward is highly unlikely to get back on the court this season, but the Celtics GM's photo should lead plenty of people to believe that the 27-year-old Butler product could take the floor again at some point before the 2017-18 campaign ends. After all, Ainge and the Celtics have not ruled out that possibility.

Gordon Hayward, who signed a lucrative four-year, $127.8 million contract with the Celtics as a free agent back in the offseason, has career averages of 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 517 total games since being selected ninth overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2010 NBA Draft.