NBC

Hayward on Injury: ‘All I Could Think Was That It's All Over'

Just over two weeks ago, Gordon Hayward​ crashed to the floor with a dislocated ankle and wondered if his career was over. Now, he is opening up about his road to recovery in an exclusive interview with Matt Lauer of the Today Show on NBC Boston, Thursday at 7 a.m.

After Hayward crashed to the floor in his first game with the Celtics, he experienced the most pain he'd ever felt in his life and was frightened that he'd never play basketball again. 

"What is this going to do to me? Am I going to be able to come back? To play again? Am I done? Is my career over?" Hayward wrote on Facebook Wednesday. "What do I do now?"

Hayward details his experience from the time of his injury through the start of his journey back to the NBA.

"I've started by watching the games. At first, it was just grueling to try and watch. I was overwhelmed with frustration, knowing that I can't be a part of it right now. I'm not even with the team. It's hard mentally to watch the games because I'm sitting here thinking, 'I'm not going to be able to help the team on the court this year,'" Hayward wrote.

Despite his pain and frustration, Hayward is looking forward.

"Now, it's all about getting back," he wrote. "Time to begin."

The Today Show will air an interview with Hayward on Thursday morning.

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