The nature of the NBA’s restart does indeed have players considering priorities, especially including health and family.
And with Gordon Hayward’s wife Robyn due to deliver a son in September, it’s not difficult to understand where the Celtics forward’s priorities will lie. The Celtics are expected to be in the playoffs at that point, and Hayward will have no problem leaving the bubble for a game or two.
“It’s a pretty easy decision for me on that. I’ve been at the birth of every one of my children and I think there are more important things in life,” said the soon-to-be father of four, including three girls. “So we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I know the NBA has a protocol for that type of thing and hopefully I can do the quarantining and testing the appropriate amount of time and then be back with the boys.”
Hayward, like many of his teammates, has spent the entire shutdown with his wife and children.
“I think for a lot of people in the NBA, a difficult decision as far as leaving family, especially if you have little kids,” he said. “This is a unique experience that’s about to happen, because although we are on the road a lot during the year, you do get time to come home.
“Maybe maximum eight, nine, 10 days on the road before you’re home. And so being gone for a lot longer certainly is going to be tough,” he said. “It’s going to be hard. There’s no doubt about it. I think leaving the girlies is gonna be really hard and for sure a sad day for me. I think they’re old enough to the point where they do understand what’s going on and we’ve tried to explain to them that I’m gonna be gone for a little while. It’s something where I think it is what it is. I think the opportunity to compete for a championship and play for a title is something a lot of us NBA players want to do. We want to go down there and continue the season and try to finish something that we’ve worked for all year. So I think there’s definitely a lot to think about.
“Certainly, also my wife being pregnant, there’ll be a time if and when we’re down there and she’s going to have the baby, I’m for sure going to be with her.”
Lingering affects
Even now, almost three years later, Hayward feels soreness from his surgically-repaired left ankle and foot. Though the break has helped most players to heal, Hayward is admittedly resigned to dealing with these aftereffects.
“My foot still gets sore,” he said. “I wish that I had an answer to why it is a little sore. I think a lot of it relates to just the injury that I had. I’ve been training pretty much this whole time. Not full go obviously, since I haven’t had a court the whole time, but I have been trying to stay fit. I’ve been resting but at the same time not resting. Kind of like a maintenance type thing. Everything is definitely a lot better, there is no doubt about that. For sure, I’m feeling great, it’s just the foot still is a little sore. It is what it is.”
Time flies
Hayward has a player option that he’ll likely renew or restructure before next season, but in a flash, it seems, the third anniversary of his signing as a Celtic is coming up soon.
“I can’t believe it’s been three years already, to be honest,” he said. “A lot has happened for my family, for me. Obviously, the injury is a big, big thing, and then working my way back, playing at the Boston Garden, there’s absolutely nothing like that.
“I cherish every moment I get to play there, especially after going through the injury. I haven’t thought about the future, honestly, every day I’ve been trying to find out information about what’s going to happen with the season than anything and then trying to stay fit, stay ready. It’s been an unbelievable three years here. Like I said, I had a child here. I’ll never forget that. It’s been some great moments, for sure. Obviously, some not great moments with the injury and everything, but some big moments and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
