It’s not an unfair question to ask. Will Gordon Hayward ever return to his old form? An alley-oop gone tragically awry on opening night last season ended Hayward’s Celtics debut after seven years with the Jazz, with a grueling rehab following his fractured tibia. The former Butler star had just signed a four-year, $128 million contract in July and been reunited with his old college coach, but his lost 2017-18 marked one of the league’s saddest stories in recent memory.
Now back from injury and an arduous recovery, this season hasn’t provided a smooth return to form for Hayward.