Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan criticized Fox Sports commentator Skip Bayless over Twitter on Tuesday night after the TV personality made light of an injury to Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward.
Hayward broke his ankle midway through the first quarter of the NBA's season opener between Boston and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He went up for an alley-oop pass and fell to the court awkwardly after a small collision with Cleveland's LeBron James. A hush fell over the Cavaliers' arena as Hayward lay on the floor with his leg bent severely. Several Celtics teammates huddled near the bench in prayer. Hayward had his leg wrapped in an air cast as he exited the arena.
"If Gordon Hayward is gone, maybe for the season, LeBron's path to losing a sixth finals gets even easier," said Bayless in a tweet shortly after the gruesome injury, referencing James's five lost NBA Finals.
DeRozan replied seven minutes later.
"You're a clown for that tweet after a man gets hurt with a potential career ending injury! (Expletive) bigger then basketball!" said DeRozan.
Hayward signed a four-year, $128 million max contract in July to make the Celtics the chief competition for the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors lost to Cleveland in the conference semifinal last season and Toronto is also considered a playoff contender.
DeRozan had tweeted about Hayward's injury before Bayless had, sending his well wishes to his fellow NBA player.
"Man, nothing but prayers to Gordon Hayward!" said DeRozan from his verified Twitter account.
The Canadian Press
