Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Coming into Tuesday night, basketball fans across the country were filled with excitement, waiting to get their first look at the newly revamped Celtics team take on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Unfortunately, after tipoff, that excitement quickly turned to dread as Gordon Hayward went down with a severe broken ankle just minutes into his first game with Boston.
The injury was gruesome, as evidenced by the reactions coming from the Cavaliers bench in the immediate aftermath of the injury. The response on social media was swift as well, with NBA players taking to Twitter to share their prayers and support of Hayward, and wish him well in recovery.
Many of the players giving their support have suffered dramatic injuries themselves, including Paul George and Houston Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920443835502792709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
God bless you bro @gordonhayward ! 🙏🏾 help him thru this god!
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920444223966666754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Can’t even put into words.
Gordon Hayward.
Feeling for you man.
Absolutely gut wrenching.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920446900003835905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Prayers up for Gordon Hayward !!! 🙏🏽
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920445032057815040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Lord , Carry Him Now 🙏🏾@gordonhayward pic.twitter.com/jEnvghETW1
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920445607105327104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Praying for my guy @gordonhayward!!! NEVER want to see any of the guys go through anything like that.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920449081323016193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Prayers to my brother @gordonhayward 🙏 pic.twitter.com/WigEE3BFPP
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920447956486012928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Wow smh prayers up to @gordonhayward may God give you strength during this time.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920444628721127425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Praying for GH…. omg…. nasty look
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920444740750979077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
🙏🏽
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/920443493461479424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Wow…thats horrific…feel awful for Hayward
Additionally, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Cavaliers star LeBron James went back into the locker room where Hayward was being treated shortly after the injury.
Moments like this show what a tight family of players the NBA is no matter the score of any particular game.
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