Hayward: I was absent due to injury, which gave Tatum the opportunity to grow in Celtics

According to Sports Illustrated reporter Aaron Coloma, former Boston Celtics player Gordon Hayward talked about his injury and the impact of this experience on Jason Tatum's growth in an interview. Hayward said his injury gave Tatum more opportunities to rise in the Celtics.

The Celtics selected Tatum with the 3D draw in 2017 and signed a four-year, $127.8 million contract with Hayward, who was just selected as All-Star. However, when Hayward suffered a severe injury in the first quarter of the 2017-18 season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was absent from the entire season. Tatum played 80 games in his rookie season and was selected as the first team of the Rookie. Hayward said that if he was not injured, coach Brad Stevens might design more tactics for him than for Tatum or Jaylen Brown. Tatum has since been selected into the All-Star six times in a row and four times in the All-Squad. Hayward left the Celtics in 2020 and retired in 2024.