Hayward: Outpouring of support included email from Obama

Gordon Hayward's 2017-18 season was erased just five minutes after it began.

But from the moment he suffered a broken tibia and dislocated ankle during the first game of his Boston Celtics career, Hayward says he's been overwhelmed by the support he's received.

"I cannot believe all the messages from everyone," Hayward wrote on his blog Wednesday. "There were so many people wishing me the best, and having me in their thoughts and prayers."

As Hayward explains, the support has come from his wife and two daughters, his new team - Celtics coach Brad Stevens was one of four people who carried him, on a stretcher, up two flights of stairs and onto the team plane - his former team, Hayward writes: "Everyone from (Jazz) ownership, coaches, and all my teammates were immediately there for me," his would-be teammate: "The first person who talked to me was Isaiah Thomas," and the rest of the NBA community (he got uplifting messages from the likes of Paul George and Kobe Bryant).

The goodwill didn't stop there. The impact of Hayward's injury apparently reached some in the uppermost echelon of public influence.

"Barack Obama sent me an email, too," Hayward writes. "That was a pretty big deal."

The 44th President of the United States is a notorious hoops junkie, so it's no surprise he was as gutted as the rest of us were when Hayward went down on opening night. Needless to say, his message was deeply appreciated.

"At a time when it feels like your world is caving in," Hayward writes, "you begin to realize how lucky you are to have people from all over supporting you."