Brad Stevens Gives Most Sobering Update Yet On Celtics' Gordon Hayward

Boston Celtics fans remain stubborn in their hopes of seeing Gordon Hayward return to the court this season.

Brad Stevens keeps doing his best to squash their dreams, however.

The C’s head coach recently reiterated Hayward, who suffered a gruesome ankle injury during the season opener, won’t be back this season. But Danny Ainge’s ensuing update left the door open –albeit slightly — for a Hayward comeback, as did a new video that showed the Celtics forward actually playing basketball.

But then Stevens reached back out and slammed the door shut ahead of Saturday’s game between the Celtics and the Houston Rockets.

Stevens says it’s great to see Hayward’s progress after watching video of him jumping, but adds: “He’s still super long way from even being in a 1-on-1 workout where he’s cutting.”

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 3, 2018

The Celtics’ Twitter team omitted Stevens’ most pointed remark, though.

Take a look these tweets from a pair of Celtics beat reporters:

The #Celtics Brad Stevens reiterated that Gordon Hayward WILL NOT return this season. Stevens said Hayward is progressing but is a “super-long “ ways away from doing 1-on-zero work, and being able to cut.

— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) March 3, 2018

Brad Stevens was basically as definitive as he’s been regarding Hayward. “He’s not playing this year.”

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) March 3, 2018

Thanks for ruining everyone’s weekend, Brad.

At the end of the day, it remains unlikely that Hayward will return this season, and Stevens is smart for refusing to put pressure on the 27-year-old. But until the Celtics release an official statement on the matter, speculation of Hayward’s triumphant comeback will persist.