Hayward not ready to give up on season: 'Something I'm still working for'

Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward suffered one of the more gruesome leg injuries in sports history in October. While his intensive rehab continues, his coach Brad Stevens has already publicly stated Hayward won't play again this season.

Don't tell Hayward that, however.

"The hope is still there," Hayward said Friday of possibly suiting up again in 2017-18, according to the Providence Journal's Scott Souza. "It's something I'm still working for. But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen."

By all accounts, Hayward is progressing well from a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle, but the ultimate decision on his return rests with the Celtics. Stevens said last week that Hayward is "a super long way away" from even getting into a single workout that involves footwork such as cuts.

He did, however, show off some dribbling to a group of Boston-area students Friday.

The Celtics have 16 games left in the regular season. The latest the NBA Finals can end is June 17, meaning that - assuming Boston went that far - Hayward would need to recover to game condition in just over three months.