Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward is expected to make his season debut against the New York Knicks on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon:
Source: Jazz star Gordon Hayward is expected to make his season debut in Sunday’s matinee game vs. Knicks. He… https://t.co/OYWoKpMDo7
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 5, 2016
Hayward missed the first six games of the season, along with most of the preseason, as a result of the finger injury sustained last month.
The Jazz are expected to remain competitive in the Western Conference this season, sporting one of the league’s top frontcourts consisting of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. They’ve gotten off to a decent start so far, at least when considering who’s been unavailable due to injury, with Alec Burks and Boris Diaw also missing some time.
For Hayward, an improving 26-year-old now in his seventh NBA season, bouncing back from the injury and leading the Jazz to a top seed is imperative. Hayward will become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and is expected to register major interest and obtain a respectable financial contract, as well.
Hayward averaged a career-high 19.7 points, 5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest in 80 games with the Jazz last year.
