Celtics Gordon Hayward has progressed to unassisted running - very slowly
Don't get too excited about this news, but Gordon Hayward is back to running with no assist from the AlterG treadmill. But we are not talking blinding sprints here. I have been waiting for this progression in Hayward's rehab and I love seeing him running on the hardwood. It is a major step.
.@GordonHayward is back running on his own power for the first time since his injury! 🙌 ( Via @PlayersTribune) pic.twitter.com/HBDLF4xxSK
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 2, 2018
But Coach Brad Stevens is always ready to caution fans about Gordon's progress. We expect to hear he is a "long, long way away" but wouldn't a single "long" have sufficed. Sprinting and jumping are power moves for a basketball player, and we can expect to see those moves down the line. Please make note of the fact I did not say "way, way down the line".
Brad Stevens on Gordon Hayward: "I saw that video, pretty slow running. .... The next step of his progression is once every three days he gets on the court and does that. As you can see, it was about 20 percent speed, nothing lateral, no jumping. Long, long way away." pic.twitter.com/pOvakXxJkE
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) April 2, 2018
Gordon can obviously run much faster than is seen on the video, and it must be tough for him to contain himself and follow the rehab staff guidelines. We now await the next videos showing Hayward sprinting, jumping and moving laterally with confidence. But what we saw above is a big step for him.
Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC
Photo via Winslow Townson/AP
