Celtics' Hayward would leave bubble for birth of child

Gordon Hayward and his wife Robyn are expecting their fourth child in September, and the Boston Celtics forward won't be missing the birth if his team is still competing in Orlando.

"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," Hayward said, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there."

The second round of the NBA playoffs begins on Aug. 31, while the conference finals are slated to start Sept. 15.

If Hayward leaves the campus environment at Walt Disney World, he's subject to a mandatory four-day quarantine period. He must also test negative for COVID-19 during each day he's outside the property before being granted entry back into the bubble.

But undergoing such measures, and basketball itself, is secondary for Hayward when it comes to witnessing the birth of his child.

"It's a pretty easy decision for me on that," Hayward said. "I've been at the birth of every one of my children and I think there are more important things in life.

"... 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."