Boston Celtics wing Gordon Hayward returned to practice this week, going through contact for the first time since fracturing his hand earlier this season. Of course, the disheartening injury to the ten-year NBA veteran came two years after he fractured his leg in his Celtics debut in October 2017.
Hayward's recovery is going well, he told Boston Sports Journal's Brian Robb.
“It went well,” Hayward said of the appointment. “I played a little kind of like hybrid contact today with coaches and stuff. It’s definitely sore and I think that’s something I’ve got to work through. I’ve got to work through that to make my hand stronger, and hopefully, over the next couple of days, I can do that and get it kind of more the same strength of my right hand. I think it’s going to be a little while, and plus I was right-hand dominant anyway. So it’s definitely going to probably not be the exact same, but get it more strengthened so the percentage is closer to my right.
“It’s still hard to say exactly,” Hayward admitted when asked about a return plan. “But we have some good days here at home where I can practice and really do the things I want to do and kind of feel it out and see how it responds. I did a lot on it today, so I think it’s going to be more sore. It might swell up, so hopefully as soon as I’m done here go ice it and get some of the swelling down and kind of just take it day by day.”
Celtics head coach Brad Stevens added that Hayward's, 29, recovery “looks good.” He also added, “Cleared for a little bit more today. Did most of practice. We didn’t do anything live. When we went like a controlled live he acted as an official. So, making real strides, I guess.”
Hayward was averaging 18.9 points per game on 55.5% from the floor, his personal best while on the Celtics. The Butler product previously competed for the Utah Jazz for seven seasons before signing with Boston as a free agent in the summer of 2017, reuniting with his former college coach in Stevens with the Celtics.
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