Boston Celtics: Gordon Hayward will regain All-Star prominence

It will take more patience, but Gordon Hayward will regain his All-Star form with the Boston Celtics eventually says his agent.

There was a few times during the season where it looked like Gordon Hayward was on his way back to All-Star form, but the Boston Celtics forward continues to battle towards consistency in getting his game back to where it was when he was in Utah.

According to his agent, Mark Bartelstein, there is no doubt the Gordon Hayward who rose to All-Star status with the Jazz will become that player again next season with the Celtics.

In admitting it may not happen for the remainder of this season, Bartelstain explained in an appearance on WEEI Late Night with Patrick Gilroy on Friday that his client will indeed rise above and make it back completely from the horrific lower leg injury that ended his inaugural season with the Celtics before it even started.

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"“There’s no doubt in my mind,” Bartelstein said, as transcribed by WEEI.  “My guess is he doesn’t get his game all the way back where we’re accustomed to seeing it until next year.  He’s going to need a summer to get back in the gym and get back in the laboratory and the weight room and build on everything he did last year.  But there’s not a doubt in my mind.  He’ll be an All-Star in this league many, many times over.”"

In averaging just 10.8 points a game, Hayward has been labeled as part of the issues going on with the Boston Celtics.  In looking tentative at times and lacking the explosiveness he once had, Hayward has been looked at as a liability on the court both offensively and defensively.

That is not completely his fault.  For every zero-point performance, there does seem to be a game where Gordon Hayward shows glimpses of his All-Star form.  He has had two 30-point performances and started to show some consistency before spraining his other ankle prior to the All-Star break.

So, while fans may not see the All-Star version of Hayward for the remainder of this season, there is still a player who can be a factor in the playoffs if his mental confidence and physical ability aligns.  That explosiveness can return at any point now, but patience will allow it to fully return next season.

"“I don’t think people understand the severity of the injury, the second surgery, missing an entire season and a summer where you can’t really go work on your game,” Bartelstein continued.  “These are things you can’t place the proper value on, so he’s trying to do this in the course of the season.  That’s a difficult thing to do, because you don’t even really practice much during the course of the season, the games come so fast.”"

Another factor in the way of Hayward fully regaining his game is the amount of talent and depth the team currently has.  Combine that with the season-long struggle to find chemistry and it appears the Gordon Hayward the team and fans have to accept is the role player who can create a spark of the bench.

Accepting that role, which it appears he has, will inspire the All-Star version of himself.  With his talent and knowledge of the game, it’s just a matter of time.