Just five minutes into his Celtics debut and Gordon Hayward was taken out on a stretcher after falling on his left ankle, while attempting to catch an alley-oop pass from teammate Kyrie Irving.
The Celtics confirmed the injury to be a dislocated left ankle, plus a fractured tibia and the All-Star forward was flown immediately back to Boston for further examination
“It’s a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia down there, whatever the bone is on the leg,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the 102-99 loss to Cleveland, which was worst than the fractured ankle that the Celtics originally diagnosed as Hayward's injury. “Our doctors have looked at it and will know more. But he’s going straight to the hospital when he gets [to Boston].”While the sports world grimaced in unison when they watched the play that lead to the injury live during the TNT broadcast on Tuesday night, many professional athletes, especially NBA players, took to social media to voice their concern and support for Hayward.
One particular message from future Hall-of-Famer Kobe Bryant on Wednesday afternoon, has many echoing his words of encouragement, along with well wishes on hopefully a speedy recovery for Hayward.
Bryant, who knows a thing or two about leg injuries, raptured his Achilles tendon four years ago. While the journey to recovery was long and difficult, the 'Black Mamba' knows all too well the roller coaster of emotion that Hayward must be enduring over the last 15 hours or so since the injury occured.
Bryant's inspiring Instagram post did not lack words of motivation to go along with his signature hashtag #MambaMentality
According to ESPN's preliminary reports, Hayward, 27, will undergo surgery on Wednesday at New England Baptist Hospital.
Here are some other messages of support for Hayward from around the NBA, via Twitter:
Gordon and Robyn, our thoughts are with you and your family. All of Jazz Nation sending best wishes for a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/UzYyWX5iaV— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 18, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gordon Hayward. #BiggerThanBasketball— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 18, 2017
ππ½ππ½ For @gordonhayward. Come back stronger!— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) October 18, 2017
Prayers up @gordonhayward. Wishing you a healthy recovery.— James Harden (@JHarden13) October 18, 2017
ππΎ
God bless you bro @gordonhayward ! ππΎ help him thru this god!— Paul George (@Yg_Trece) October 18, 2017
Today it‘s not about Basketball, it‘s about a friend and a teammate! Come back stronger, Gordon!ππΌ☘️ @gordonhayward #Celtics pic.twitter.com/9X3baPKYdk— Daniel Theis (@dtheis10) October 18, 2017
Woke up this morning praying hard for my guy @gordonhayward ... Minor setback for a MAJOR comeback my brotha, all love from me! ππΎππΎππΎ— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) October 18, 2017
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Picture used courtesy of Celtics.com
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