NBA: Top 10 candidates for 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year

Gordon Hayward‘s return last season from a gruesome leg injury was not the glowing success story many fans of the Boston Celtics had hoped, even though Hayward tried to warn them that he wasn’t going to be the same player that had been an All-Star for the Utah Jazz in 2017.

Hayward lost his starting role by mid-November last season, making only two of his 18 appearances in the starting unit after Nov. 17.

He put up the worst numbers he had posted since his second season in the NBA, averaging 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 25.9 minutes per game while shooting 46.6 percent overall and 33.3 percent on 3.2 3-point attempts per game.

But now two years out from the injury he sustained in his debut with the Celtics on opening night in 2017-18, Hayward should be ready to be fully comfortable with the player he is now and maximize that.

Last season, there were times it seemed Hayward looked lost, trying to find moves and gears that were not attainable. That was particularly evident on the defensive end.

In 54 games off the bench last season, Hayward was actually much better than he was in his 18 starts, averaging 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 25.2 minutes and shooting 49.2 percent overall and 35.6 percent on 3.0 deep tries a night.

Hayward figures to be backing up Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum at the forward spots, though it’s possible he could see limited time behind Marcus Smart at the 2 as well.

This isn’t a case of a player that forgot how to play. Rather, it’s a case of a player having to learn his new capabilities after a career-altering setback.

Boston hasn’t had a Sixth Man of the Year winner since the Celtics had three in a row (Kevin McHale twice and then Bill Walton) from 1983-86, so Hayward is a dark horse at least to end that drought.