$128 million player breaks leg in NBA opening quarter

Gordon Hayward, last season's All-Star, suffered a serious injury in the first game of the 2017-2018 season, where his Boston Celtics lost to the Cavaliers 99-102.

The Celtics' new signing appeared to have a broken leg when he landed after colliding with LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers midway through the first half. Hayward attempted an alley-oop after a pass from Kyrie Irving but failed.

* Hayward's injury

The 27-year-old left the field on a stretcher and was later flown back to Boston for treatment. According to the latest information, Hayward was diagnosed with not a broken foot, but a fractured ankle, which will definitely require surgery.

The former Utah Jazz player's injury recalls the injury suffered by Paul George, also an All-Star, a few years ago while playing for the US national team. George was sidelined for a year, but then came back strong.

* Paul George had to miss a year due to a serious injury similar to Hayward.

It's a bad start not only for Hayward, but also for the Celtics, who signed him to a four-year, $128 million contract. This season, Hayward is the fourth-highest paid player on the team, behind Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Paul Millsap.

Gordon Hayward's horrific injury left Quicken Loans Arena in silence for several minutes. Fans and players from both teams prayed for the All-Star player from last season. Many stared in disbelief, not even daring to look at Hayward again.

On social media, stars also prayed for the unfortunate guy. Among them were Paul George, who suffered a similar injury, and Enes Kanter, Hayward's former teammate at Utah. "It's sad to see that happen to anyone," Mike Conley and DeAndre Jordan lamented.

Many stars pray for Hayward after the terrible injury.

Hayward's serious injury overshadowed other events, like the reunion of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade for the first time in three and a half years, or Kyrie Irving being booed in his return to his old arena. Irving still scored 22 points, but it wasn't enough to help the Celtics win.

The visitors fought back after trailing by 16 points through the first two quarters, even leading the Cavaliers at one point in the final quarter. But James' 29 points, along with Kevin Love's late brilliance, helped the defending runners-up win 102-99 on the opening day of the 2017-2018 NBA season.

According to VNE