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Professional athletes react: Celtics’ Gordon Hayward suffers horrific ankle injury in season opener

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 17: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics consoles Gordon Hayward #20 after Hayward was injured while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on October 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Credit: Gregory Shamus

Credit: Gregory Shamus

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 17: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics consoles Gordon Hayward #20 after Hayward was injured while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on October 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

By Juliakate E Culpepper

Oct 18, 2017

During the Boston Celtics season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, Celtics forward Gordon Hayward suffered a broken left ankle.

The play that resulted in Hayward’s injury was ordinary as the 6-foot-8, 209 pound NBA veteran jumped up to block a shot in the first quarter, but landed wrong.

Hayward signed a four-year, $128 million contract with the Celtics in July after spending seven seasons with the Utah Jazz.

Hayward’s injury is most likely season-ending.

Warning: This video visibly shows Hayward’s broken ankle.

While Hayward was still on the ground surrounded by trainers and in visible pain, the Celtics huddled up.

When Hayward was finally on a stretcher and carried off the floor to the locker room, Cavaliers’ LeBron James and Dwyane Wade went up to him.

Here’s what professional athletes had to say after Hayward’s injury:

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Juliakate E Culpepper

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