Boston Celtics Forward Gordon Hayward Plans To Leave NBA Bubble At Disney World

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Jazz and current Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward said that he plans to leave the NBA’s bubble at Disney World to be with his wife for the birth of their fourth child.

Hayward discussed his decision to leave the leave’s restart if the Celtics are still playing during a conference call on Friday, July 3.

Robyn Haward is due to give birth in September.

“There’ll be a time if and when we’re down there and she’s going to have the baby, I’m for sure going to be with her. We’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there,” Hayward said of his wife. “It’s a pretty easy decision for me on that. I’ve been at the birth of every one of my children, and I think there are more important things in life. So we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I know the NBA has a protocol for that type of thing, and hopefully, I can do the quarantining and testing the appropriate amount of time and then be back with the boys.”

The former Jazzman is the current father of three daughters and said leaving to participate in the NBA’s restart will be difficult.

“I think for a lot of people in the NBA, [it’s] a difficult decision as far as leaving family, especially if you have little kids. This is a unique experience that’s about to happen, because although we are on the road a lot during the year, you do get time to come home. Maybe maximum eight, nine, 10 days on the road before you’re home. And so being gone for a lot longer certainly is going to be tough. It’s going to be hard; there’s no doubt about it,” Hayward said. “I think leaving the girlies is gonna be really hard and for sure a sad day for me. I think they’re old enough to the point where they do understand what’s going on, and we’ve tried to explain to them that I’m gonna be gone for a little while. It’s something where I think it is what it is. I think the opportunity to compete for a championship and play for a title is something a lot of us NBA players want to do. We want to go down there and continue the season and try to finish something that we’ve worked for all year. So I think there’s definitely a lot to think about.”

#Celtics F Gordon Hayward says he will leave the ⁦@WaltDisneyWorld⁩ #NBA bubble if/when his wife goes into labor(September). Says protocol is in place and he’ll follow it. #WBZ @wbz @celtics pic.twitter.com/7ZetURDvUP

— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) July 3, 2020

NBA Restart Plan

Starting on July 30, 22 NBA teams, including Hayward’s Celtics, will finish the 2019-20 regular season with an eight-game schedule. After the regular season is completed, 16 teams will advance to the NBA Playoffs.

The games will be played at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and no fans will be in attendance.

Similar Situation

Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley’s wife is due to give birth on August 27.

“The understanding that I’d be able to see her and I’d be able to be back for the baby, as long as all that was answered and the T’s were crossed and the I’s were dotted on that situation, I was more and more comfortable knowing I’d be able to be back with them at some point,” Conley said on July 1.

Like @Joeingles7, @MCONLEY10 also has to be aware of the health and safety of his wife, who is pregnant, as the NBA returns.#TakeNote @utahjazz pic.twitter.com/OpMoQ1uHwg

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 1, 2020

Hayward Still Recovering From 2017 Injury?

During the conference call on Friday, Hayward said that he is still feeling the effects of the gruesome season-ending injury he suffered during his first game as a member of the Celtics in 2017.

“I wish that I had an answer to why it is a little sore. I think a lot of it relates to just the injury that I had. I’ve been training pretty much this whole time. Not full-go, obviously, since I haven’t had a court the whole time, but I have been trying to stay fit. I’ve been resting, but at the same time not resting… kind of like a maintenance-type thing,” Hayward said. “Everything is definitely a lot better. There is no doubt about that. For sure, I’m feeling great, it’s just the foot still is a little sore. It is what it is.”

Hayward says his foot still gets sore and says it's just something related to his injury. Says he wishes he had a better answer… "it is what it is"

— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) July 3, 2020

About Gordon Hayward

Hayward was selected by the Utah Jazz with the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He played seven seasons with the Jazz before signing with the Celtics as a free agent in 2017.