The Boston Celtics, ahead of Gordon Hayward, who returned Saturday after missing a month for a sprained ankle in the third year, will leave the league’s Walt Disney World campus to attend the birth of his son as planned, according to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.
“Gordon Hayward originally intended to leave the bubble for the birth of his fourth child, but as he had just spent an unforeseen time with his circle of relatives due to his injury, he told me that the existing plan to stay with the Celtics for so long as they progressed,” Nichols tweeted on Saturday.
Hayward was injured on August 17 and left the NBA campus near Orlando, Florida, to recover and returned to Florida in early September.
Hayward first told reporters that he would leave the bubble at the birth of his fourth child in early July.
“There will be a moment if we get there and she’s going to have the baby, I’ll be with her,” Hayward said of Robyn, his wife.
“We’ll have to get to that bridge when we get there. “
He explained his in more detail.
“It’s a pretty simple resolution for me about it. I’ve been at the birth of every one of my children, and I think there are more vital things in life, so we’re going to cross that bridge when we get there.
“I know the NBA has a protocol for this kind of thing, and I hope I can quarantine and check the duration and then go back to the boys. “
Plans were replaced when Hayward suffered an ankle injury and ended up spending time with his circle of relatives at home.
Hayward, averaging 17. 5 points, 6. 7 rebounds and 4. 1 assists consistent with the game, joins a Celtics team that lost its first two games of the Eastern Conference finals to the Miami Heat. Boston had a double-digit lead at the time part of the two games, but failed to win.
Hayward entered the rotation for the third game and left the bench on Saturday.