Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has parlayed his broken left hand into puppies and rainbows.
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Hayward unveiled a new cast that is protecting his injured limb, which was designed by his daughters. Despite his request to get some Celtics green included in the design, his daughters apparently had other ideas.
Gordon Hayward says he tried to get the girls to put some green on his splint, but they were adamant about purple (and puppies and rainbows).
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) November 13, 2019
Hayward, who sustained the injury during Saturday's win over the San Antonio Spurs, had been finding his groove offensively as of late. After having dealt with a gruesome ankle break that ended his 2017-18 year before it got out of the box, Hayward finally began to show signs of his former All-Star self.
Through eight games this year, he has averaged 18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Gordon Hayward’s cast is art. pic.twitter.com/GrkOuAX0m9
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) November 13, 2019
Early word on the length of Hayward's absence has him pegged to miss at least the next six weeks due to the ailment. Marcus Smart will enter the starting five in his place in the short-term, although how the team reallocates Hayward's shots remains to be seen.
As a group, Boston has gotten off to a blistering 8-1 start, looking to avenge their second-round playoff exit from last season.
For those looking for a silver lining as it pertains to Hayward's absence, the injury occurred on his non-dominant hand, which theoretically should not stunt his ability to continue scoring at his previous rate upon his return. Additionally, his absence will allow for the continued development of youngsters such Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who took a significant step forward during Hayward's previous lost year.
Follow Us
Subscribe