NBA: Celtics star Hayward out of protective boot

Boston, December 22: Celtics forward Gordon Hayward says he is out of a protective boot and progressing with his rehabilitation after suffering a gruesome ankle injury just five minutes into the season.

"The theme for me right now is, 'Be better today than I was yesterday.'" Hayward wrote in a post on his website.

"And it has been a gradual process. I started with the cast. Then after I got the cast off, I was put into a boot so that we could start manual therapy.

"At first, I was wearing the boot all the time and stuck on crutches. At one point, they had me take off the boot before I went to sleep, or when I was just laying around.

"Now I'm off the crutches completely, and I'm totally out of the boot, too. Instead, I'm in a brace, which I'll probably be wearing for the foreseeable future while I'm doing rehab and all that stuff. It's all about making slow progress. Baby steps."

The boot is gone and I'm making progress! There’s a long road ahead but I'm working hard to #ImproveEveryDay. Details on my rehab schedule and breaking down our success in my absence. https://t.co/mYEFv1DZpG

— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) December 21, 2017

Hayward detailed his schedule and success thus far, while also praising his team's ability to push forward in his absence. Still, Hayward would give anything to be back on the court with his team-mates.

"The toughest part of the whole thing is honestly watching our games and other games around the NBA, and not really being able to be a part of it," he wrote.

"The mental side of it is 100 per cent the most difficult. I trained all summer and made a decision to come play for the Boston Celtics, only to have to sit on the sideline and watch the Boston Celtics play. That is definitely the toughest part."

Despite his disappointment in having to likely miss his entire first season in Boston with the injury, Hayward is staying positive and taking advantage of his free time by spending it with his wife and young daughters.

"Things back on the homefront have been really good. In a lot of ways, it feels like just an extension of the summer. It's kind of funny that way," he wrote. "Those are things that I wouldn't necessarily be able to do if I was on the road all the time… I'm looking forward to spending more of this holiday season with them."

Hayward, 27, is open to returning this season if he is deemed healthy enough. The 2017 All-Star selection signed a four-year contract worth $128 million this offseason after spending the first seven years of his career with the Utah Jazz.

Source: OPTA