Danny Ainge said on Thursday that Gordon Hayward will lose the walking boot he’s in after two more weeks.
It hasn’t even been two months since Gordon Hayward’s horrific ankle/leg injury, but the recovery process is going smoothly. Danny Ainge went on the Toucher and Rich show Thursday, explaining that his newest All-Star is “about two weeks away” from ditching his walking boot.
Danny Ainge just told us that Gordon Hayward is about two weeks away from being completely out of his walking boot for good.
— Toucher and Rich (@Toucherandrich) December 7, 2017
On opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Hayward jumped and landed awkwardly, resulting in a gruesome lower-leg injury where his tibia snapped. The official diagnosis was a dislocated left ankle and fractured tibia. He played just five minutes before it happened.
The 27-year-old underwent surgery and got ruled out for the rest of the season. Boston has faired just fine. They’ve jumped out to an NBA-best 22-4 on the shoulders of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford. Guys like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart have stepped up during Hayward’s absence.
Despite not practicing, Hayward is still involved. Head coach Brad Stevens has placed him in a video role so he remains mentally engaged.
Hayward joined the Celtics this summer after signing a four-year, $128 million deal. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Utah Jazz, where he became a fan favorite. Last year, Hayward landed on his first All-Star team and averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
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