Enes Kanter joined the Boston Celtics on a two-year $10 million deal this summer and will play a vital role in the paint in the upcoming season after Al Horford and Aron Baynes departed to Philadelphia and Phoenix, respectively.
Kanter worked out with his new teammate Gordon Hayward as the pair is preparing for the 2018-19 campaign, and offered his opinion on Hayward’s condition almost two years after Gordon suffered a gruesome injury.
“Gordon Hayward — I think he should definitely start eyeing the All-Star Game,” Kanter told NBC Sports Boston. “He had a very bad injury [but] I see his work ethic, he’s been doing an amazing job. I just actually played against him [Tuesday morning] and he looked amazing. Very good shape, lot of confidence, and he is comfortable out here.”
Enes Kanter played against Gordon Hayward on Tuesday morning. His assessment? “[Hayward] looked amazing. Very good shape, lot of confidence … I think he should definitely start eyeing the All-Star game.”
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Even though other Boston players also shared their opinion on Hayward and his progress after a severe injury, Kanter did spend time with him on the Utah Jazz.
“I played with that dude three and a half years with Utah Jazz. I know the guy, I know how hard he works, how much he is willing to learn, and he makes his teammates better,” said Kanter. “I’m very excited about him. He should definitely be eyeing the All-Star Game.”
Hayward showed some of his old form in the 2018-19 campaign but was rather inconsistent. He was excellent in the opening round of the playoffs last year against the Indiana Pacers, but struggled in a Round 2 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks. Gordon spent nearly the entire summer in Boston and worked out most mornings with the team’s coaching staff. Kanter saw his progress.
“He’s been here all summer,” said Kanter. “[Hayward] puts the work in, [he] focused on what he needed to focus on. Like I said, again, obviously he’s a really really good basketball player but the confidence, with that injury — I think last year was a little rough for him but I think this year, man, I see him, he looks strong, he looks in really good shape, and he’s enjoying his time here.”
