Boston Celtics guard Gordon Hayward is doing well according to head coach Brad Stevens.
Stevens said the rehab from Hayward’s Grade 3 right ankle sprain is “going OK” and that the veteran forward will be rejoining the Celtics at the Walt Disney Resort.
However, his return to the court isn’t likely anytime soon despite him rejoining the team.
“Rehab seems to be going OK,” Stevens said.
“He feels a little bit better. Still has a pretty significant amount of … I don’t think his gait is perfect yet. Once his gait feels right and becomes perfect, he’s probably on a quicker course to coming back.”
He went on to add “I think he’ll rejoin us in the bubble at some point soon, but he still will be some time away when he does that.”
Hayward suffered the ankle injury in a Game 1 victory of the Celtics’ first round matchup agaisnt the Philadelphia 76ers.
The intial timeline of Hayward’s absence had him missing four weeks with his ankle injury.
Monday marks exactly two weeks since that evaulation was released.
However, the history of Grade 3 ankle sprains would likely cause Hayward to miss more time, according to Stevens.
The original plan was for Hayward to return home in September, to be with his wife for the birth of their fourth child.
When speaking to the media after the injury occured, he was evaluating when exactly to return home in order to have the opportunity to return to the Celtics when the time came that he could resume play.
Luckily for the Boston Celtics, they have survived the absence of Gordon Hayward.
They are a perfect 5-0 in the first five games of their playoff run on route to sweeping the Sixers and blowing out the defending champion Toronto Raptors in Game 1.
Game 2 will be on Tuesday night.