For a moment, Gordon Hayward’s gruesome injury united the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics during an emotionally charged season opener.
The Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Eastern Conference’s two top teams from last season, completed a blockbuster trade this past offseason. Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers second-best player, was traded to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Brooklyn’s unprotected first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and a 2019 second-round draft pick.
This unprecedented trade between the East’s two top teams only served to ramp up the tensions between what was seen as a budding rivalry the season before.
Stories emerged of how Isaiah felt betrayed by Boston Celtic’s team President Danny Ainge. Kyrie Irving added fuel to the fire with his comments that the trade placed him a ”real live sports city”.
It was reported prior to the game that the Cavalier’s planned to air a video tribute to Irving but that plan would be shelved. The night was shaping up to be one ripe tension and a great deal of animosity.
These expectations might have very well materialised had it not been for Gordon Hayward’s horrific injury.
Hayward suffered an ankle injury with 6 minutes and 45 seconds left in the first quarter after going up for a lob attempt against LeBron James and Crowder.
Hayward’s injury united both the Cavaliers’ and the Celtics’ locker rooms. The unity went beyond the locker rooms and the players as fans present at the stadium showed their solidarity with Hayward. Social media was also abuzz with comments from both supporters of the Celtics and the Cavaliers.
What this outpouring of compassion shows us is that in the overall scheme of things basketball is just a game. The NBA’s mantra of “bigger than basketball” holds true and it doesn’t only show in times where players voice their opinions on (the lack of) social equality.
There are just some things bigger than the entertainment and fan pride that we get from watching great teams such as the Celtics and Cavaliers play.
Hayward is a father and husband that was injured on the job. We connected with him on a human level last night, knifing through the tension and pushing aside the animosity that had permeated the contest.
The Cavaliers won the contest 102-99 last night in what turned out to be a nail-biter worth every penny of admission. Hayward’s injury, though horrific, showed a bright spot in what could be the best professional sports league in America.
Our prayers are with you Gordon, get well soon.