(Photo by Erik Drost)
"He's not playing this year. I don't know what else to say," Brad Stevens said when asked whether or not Gordon Hayward would be returning this season.
Clearly, Stevens is trying to stomp out any sort of pressure that might be placed on Hayward should people expect him to come back before the 2019 season. I get and appreciate this, but we have to realize what Stevens has in mind: the well-being of Hayward and the rest of the Celtics. Ainge has echoed this sentiment, saying that Hayward “has a long way to go.” As much as I want to take Stevens at his word, I just can’t quell my excitement about the possibility of a Hayward playoff comeback.
On October 17, 2017, Gordon Hayward suffered a fractured tibia and a dislocated ankle in the Celtics’ opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. A week from today will mark five months since Hayward’s gruesome injury, and many are inquiring about his possible availability in the coming months.
Can't wait to see some of this in a C's uniform.
For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at what the recovery was like for another NBA star who had a similarly horrific fall. On August 1, 2014, Paul George suffered compound fractures in both his fibula and tibia in the USA Basketball Showcase, a significantly worse injury than Hayward’s (both bones in George’s shin were broken clean). Following the surgery, it was predicted that the recovery would take somewhere between 12 and 18 months.
Approximately two months later (September 29), George was seen without a walking boot; Hayward was first spotted without his boot around two months after his surgery as well (December 13). Fewer than three months after his surgery (on October 20th), a video was released of George shooting around after a Pacers practice, very similar to the January 24th footage of Hayward warming up prior to the Celtics/Clippers game. In this case, Hayward was slightly behind Paul George’s schedule, as just over three months had elapsed since the injury. Three months later (January 15, six months total), George was filmed throwing down this dunk but was still limited to non-contact work. I’m not sure if Hayward’s most recent progress is quite there, but he has more than a month to meet George’s deadline. In early March of 2015 (seven months), George participated in several full-length practices and was cleared to play on the 23rd. George returned to play on April 5th, docking 15 minutes against the Miami Heat.
According to this timeline, which Hayward seems to line up with pretty well, the Celtics should have Hayward back approximately eight months after he sustained his injury. Given that the fall occurred in mid-October, it should be around June when Gordon returns, the heat of the NBA Finals. However, I’m not quite ready to write Hayward off until then--George suffered a clean break of the two bones in his shin while Hayward only fractured one and dislocated his ankle. I’m no health professional, but I’d assume that even a dislocated ankle in conjunction with a fractured tibia isn’t as bad as what happened to Paul George.
That being said, this research has forced me to temper my expectations as to when we can expect Gordon Hayward back in the Celtics lineup. I bet he’ll be cleared by mid-May, which means he could make a significant impact in the Conference Semifinals and on. Given that the Celtics’ first (and probably second) round matchup should be somewhat soft, Hayward’s return could pay huge dividends come the 2018 Eastern Conference/NBA Finals. If I’m Gordon Hayward, I’m not coming back until at least the Conference Finals, as there’s just no need. So Gordon, if you’re reading this (I know you’re a loyal member of #TeamBoynton), rest, rehab, and don’t come back until you’re ready. You’ve got a bright Celtics future ahead of you.
(Rehab info via rotoworld.com, GIF courtesy of GIPHY)
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