Immediately following the season-ending leg injury to Boston Celtics newcomer Gordon Hayward, there was a correlation made to the injury that Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George suffered a few summers ago with Team USA.

With that in mind, George revealed on Friday morning that he has been in constant communication with Hayward about the injury and what will lie ahead in his recovery from it, according to Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript.

George should be a strong source of reference for Hayward moving forward given the nature of their respective injuries are similar. These are ailments that take nearly up to a year to fully recover along with having to get back into playing to like they did prior to the injury.

It is not a simple task by any means and as George eludes to could include some trying times ahead for Hayward as he works to regain strength back in the surgically repaired left leg over the next several months. There will be plenty of physical hurdles head that will also test him mentally as well.

That said, he has the unwavering support of his colleagues around the league that include George to look to for guidance and additional motivation to get back on the court.