Just over five minutes into his debut with the Boston Celtics, All-Star forward Gordon Hayward was taken off the floor on a stretcher after suffering a gruesome leg injury in Cleveland.
Both teams’ medical staffs examined Hayward and the initial diagnosis is a fractured ankle.
TNT’s Kevin Harlan immediately exclaimed, “Hayward broke his leg! Hayward has broken his leg! Hayward has broken his leg!”
WARNING: Graphic footage of Hayward suffering the injury.
Here was the Celtics’ huddle in the moments after the injury:
LeBron James reportedly went into the locker room to show support for Hayward.
The sharpshooting Hayward signed a four-year, $122 million contract with the Celtics over the offseason after spending the previous seven seasons with the Utah Jazz. The Celtics immediately increased from 15/1 odds to win the NBA title to 12/1 odds after signing him.
Hopefully Hayward will be able to make a full recovery this season.
UPDATE: Mike Gorman reports that he’s hearing Hayward does not have ligament damage, which would be very good news.
[TNT]