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Celtics' Gordon Hayward receives message from Kobe Bryant

It was a scene that has become way too familiar in basketball.
Oct 17, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward (20) lays on the court after injuring his ankle during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

It was a scene that has become way too familiar in basketball.

Tuesday night with just 5 minutes into the season opener of the Boston Celtics vs the Cleveland Cavaliers, basketball fans everywhere witnessed a horrific accident.

After attempting to field an alley-oop, Celtics' forward Gordon Hayward came down awkwardly on his ankle causing an season ending injury.

Immediately fans and celebrities took to social media to send their well wishes to Hayward and the Celtics family.

Even former Laker and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant posted on his Instagram saying, "Be sad. Be mad. Be frustrated. Scream. Cry. Sulk. When you wake up you will think it was just a nightmare only to realize it's all too real. You will be angry and wish for the day back, the game back THAT play back."

He goes on to give more words of encouragement, "You will be so appreciative of being able to stand, walk, run that you will train harder than you ever have."

Kobe has had his share of injuries through out his career, and knows what an injury like this could do to a player's moral.

We can all sympathize with Hayward because this was another injury in the game of basketball that could not be explained.

There wasn't any contact with another player that caused the injury.

Hayward wasn't trying to be the extraordinary athlete.

It was a normal play that should not have ended the way it did.

But we've seen this happen before. In 2012 during the NCAA tournament, University of Louisville and Duke were playing in the Elite Eight matchup.

Kevin Ware, guard for Louisville was attempting to block a shot and also came down awkwardly.

He suffered an open fracture that you could see protruding out of his shin. That's exactly what this injury reminded me and many others of

The good news is that Kevin Ware returned to play basketball again the following year after his injury and is still playing today.

Our thoughts and wishes are with Gordon Hayward that he has a speedy recovery.

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