The first night of the NBA season will be remembered for more than just a basketball game.
During the season-opener against arguably the two top teams in the Eastern Conference between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics Tuesday night, Gordon Hayward stole the show for all the wrong reasons after he went down with a gruesome leg injury during the first quarter.
After going up for an all-oop pass, Hayward collided with LeBron James and fell hard underneath the basket. While doing so, the All-Star players leg bent awkwardly and had to be carried out with a stretcher.
Gordon Hayward goes down with gruesome injury in season opener with the Boston Celtics. pic.twitter.com/GkjnEE5Ktx #NBA #Celtics #CavsvsCeltics
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) October 18, 2017
Teammates, opposing players, coaches and fans stood in shock after watching it happen. Cavs guard Dwyane Wade stopped and knelt with his hand on his head, Kyrie Irving couldn’t watch either as team doctors worked on Hayward.
NFL, NBA and other sports stars tweeted out their support for Hayward, with several of them who have recently gone down with season-ending injuries.
@gordonhayward prayin for u my brother.
— Odell Beckham Jr (@OBJ_3) October 18, 2017
Can't even put into words.
Gordon Hayward.
Feeling for you man.
Absolutely gut wrenching.— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 18, 2017
God bless you bro @gordonhayward ! ?? help him thru this god!
— Paul George (@Yg_Trece) October 18, 2017
???? For @gordonhayward. Come back stronger!
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) October 18, 2017
Gordon and Robyn, our thoughts are with you and your family. All of Jazz Nation sending best wishes for a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/UzYyWX5iaV
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 18, 2017
— Hunter (@hunterownbey98) October 18, 2017
Bench reax pic.twitter.com/QQ2l9N1eD0
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 18, 2017
???? LeBron James sends his thoughts & prayers to Gordon Hayward pic.twitter.com/X2QMDe6zZN
— Fanatics View (@thefanaticsview) October 18, 2017
Lord , Carry Him Now ??@gordonhayward pic.twitter.com/jEnvghETW1
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) October 18, 2017
"You hurt for him," Brad Stevens says of Gordon Hayward. "I really feel for him."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 18, 2017
Praying for my guy @gordonhayward!!! NEVER want to see any of the guys go through anything like that.
— DeAndre Jordan (@DeAndre) October 18, 2017
Hate to see @gordonhayward go down like that. I know he will be back stronger and wish him the best recovery possible.
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) October 18, 2017
These reactions to Gordon Hayward's injury tell you everything you need to know. pic.twitter.com/F3YzpUy03B
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) October 18, 2017
Come back stronger, G. ☘️ pic.twitter.com/uyClVv8uxk
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 18, 2017
Prayers to my brother @gordonhayward ? pic.twitter.com/WigEE3BFPP
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) October 18, 2017
