In the months have followed the gruesome leg injury that Boston Celtics All-Star forward Gordon Hayward suffered in the season opener, there has been much mental support offered his way.
This includes a few players that dealt with similar freak injuries during their respective careers. Golden State Warriors veteran guard Shaun Livingston falls into that category as he tore his ACL, PCL, sprained his MCL and dislocated his patella and tibiofibular joint on a fast-break drive to the basket in his third year in the league with the L.A. Clippers.
According to Tom Haberstroh of Bleacher Report, Livingston voiced that he strongly believes Hayward can get past the injury.
“Gordon can overcome it,” Livingston says. “He can get back to the same player he was with the right team around him—which I know he'll have—and the right mindset. There's definitely no stopping him. This won't stop him. I know he's going to get through it. But my line is open.”
The encouraging words and guidance from Livingston should hold some significant weight as he dealt with many injuries during the early portion of his career. In his first three years in the league, he missed 101 of 246 regular season games.
The 32-year-old has been through the difficulties of working his way back from a significant injury that tests the mental strength of a player. This is something that Livingston believes that Hayward must take much importance in building a strong mental fortitude from the situation.
“The mental side is the most important side,” Livingston says. “Your thoughts, the people around you, your self-esteem, how do you feel—all the cliches and all the proverbs. If you believe you can do it, you will. Our human nature allows us to have fear, have doubt to creep in, that just comes with the territory.”
It will be a constant uphill battle for Hayward but there appears to be the internal push and support from not only his teammates but fellow colleagues that will help him through the grueling recovery process.
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