Gordon Hayward had been looking forward to this moment for quite some time.
After months of rehab and gradual improvement, Hayward got the start Friday night in the Celtics’ preseason opener against the Hornets. Boston lost the game, 104-97, but the night was more about gelling as a team and welcoming Kyrie Irving and Hayward back.
ud83dudc4f Gordon Hayward is officially BACK IN ACTION! ud83dudc4f@celtics x @hornets – #NBAPreseason
— NBA (@NBA) September 28, 2018
Hayward missed all but six minutes of last season after breaking his left tibia and dislocating his left ankle in the team’s first game, so this was a significant milestone for both him and the organization.