The career of Gordon Hayward is one that was filled with ups and downs. He was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2010 after reaching the NCAA National Championship at Butler University. His rookie year did not show a lot of promise due to coming off of the bench. It wasn’t until the following season where he made the starting lineup. From that point on, he flourished. He made the All-Star team in his last year in Utah. In 2017, he signed with Boston Celtics in free agency and was due to be the next superstar. However, a gruesome injury set him back. Now healthy again, Hayward seems to be returning to form.
The Redemption of Gordon Hayward
How It Started
When you hear the word redemption, you think about beating an opponent that defeated you previously. You think about overcoming a personal battle with yourself. In this situation, it is about overcoming a traumatic event. On October 17, 2017, the Celtics played against the Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night. With only 6:45 left in just the 1st quarter, Hayward went up for an alley-oop, but missed the ball and landed awkwardly. This landing resulted in a very gruesome injury to his left ankle. He was diagnosed with a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia. This injury resulted in him missing the rest of the 2017-18 season.
The Struggle Back
When it comes to the rehabilitation process of a gruesome injury like Hayward’s, physical rehab is the toughest part. For the case of Hayward, it was hard mentally. His 2018-19 campaign showed some flashes, but his play was very inconsistent overall. There would be games where he scored 20 plus points and there were games where he could only muster two to four points. Some fans were wondering why he wasn’t playing to his full potential. He might have lacked the confidence to drive inside the paint because of the traumatization of his injury.
Rising Again
Just like in every redemption story, there is that time where someone overcame the odds that were against them. On November 5, 2019, the Celtics once again played against the Cavaliers. This time around, Hayward was on a mission. On that same floor where he had his injury, Hayward went on to put up a career-high 39 points while shooting 100 percent inside the three-point line. The only other player to accomplish that was Wilt Chamberlain. Hayward is now averaging 20.3 points per game on a 56.5 field goal percentage. If he can keep this play up, there can be an argument for him to win Most Improved Player. After everything Hayward has been through, he has definitely defeated his demons. We are seeing that confidence in driving to the rim and shooting the open shot. Some fans say that he’s even back to his all-star form. The fall and rise of Hayward will continue from this point on. If he does continue his all-star level of play, it may actually create an even bigger redemption story.
