The Boston Celtics came within one game of making the NBA Finals last year, and heading into the 2018-19 campaign, there’s plenty of reason to think they can get over that hump this season. In addition to LeBron James heading to the Western Conference and the usual progression that comes on a team with as many young players as Boston, the Celtics will get a pair of injured All-Stars back in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.
While Irving played most of last season, Hayward suffered a nasty left leg injury on opening night. It cost him the entirety of his first year in Boston, but the good news is Hayward is optimistic that he’s going to be perfectly fine at the start of this season.
Hayward spoke to the media on Thursday during a news conference, saying that he basically thinks he’s all the way back from the injury.
“I would say I’m basically 100 percent,” Hayward said, per ESPN. “There’s certain things that I think are going to take time — even if I was 100 percent healthy, I’m not 100 percent as far as basketball-wise, just because I haven’t played in a year.”
Hayward went on to say he isn’t worried about having to delay a return, as he’s already eyeing up being completely ready to go for the team’s regular season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Gordon Hayward back in uniform. Says he fully expects to be playing opening night without any restrictions. pic.twitter.com/SOZvQGjHlN
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) September 13, 2018
While the Celtics might not be the most popular team in the league, it’ll be great to see Hayward back on the floor after one of the more brutal injuries we’ve seen on a basketball court.
