In the first game of the 2017-2018 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted their Eastern Conference rival, the Boston Celtics. The significance of the game was apparent. The Celtics housed the former-Cavalier guard, Kyrie Irving, and they arguably got better after signing Gordon Hayward. The game was set to becoming an exciting affair between the two heavyweight teams, but a drastic injury changed the landscape of the whole game.

In the first quarter, Irving threw a lob pass to Hayward, but he quickly collapsed awkwardly on his ankle, suffering a severe left leg injury. Everyone on the floor, regardless of their team, gathered on their sides of the floor. Both teams were visibly heart-broken that Hayward's season ended before it could even begin. Perhaps the most distraught of the two teams was Irving, who threw the pass that led to the injury of Hayward.

According to ESPN, Irving regrets throwing the pass in the first place. Although he didn't intentionally hurt Hayward himself, he believes that his play did.

“I was upset because I threw that pass,” Irving says of the play that likely cost Hayward his season. “It was crowded up there. D-Wade was on the back side. LeBron came over to help. Gordon jumped without seeing where he was landing. I wish I hadn't thrown it. I felt really bad about it.”

Irving and the Celtics are doing better than anyone imagined this season, taking the first spot in the Eastern Conference, sporting a 31-10 record, which is the third-best record in the NBA. While Hayward's presence would have benefited the Celtics in the long run, they are doing fine without him now. Nonetheless, Irving has regretted his actions even though he has had a successful NBA season.