Gordon Hayward’s last year has not been easy. Next Tuesday, Oct. 17, is the one-year anniversary of his unlucky fall in Cleveland that resulted in a broken left tibia and dislocated ankle. - Jason Smeathers is Hayward’s friend and skills trainer, and has been with him for most of the last year. In Boston. In Miami. In Indianapolis. In San Diego. - Smeathers picked Hayward up for workouts each day, put him through on-court workouts and served as part-time motivator and full-time friend. - As part of “The Return” documentary published on The Athletic, I sat down with Smeathers to take you inside their work over the last year, the days where they just weren’t feeling it to the little things that kept them motivated. - “Another one down. Great job. We’ll go back after it tomorrow,” Smeathers would often repeat to Hayward. - They chose to focus on daily improvement rather than working with the big picture in mind. Improve every day became a motto for Hayward, who is 28 and in the second year of his contract with the Boston Celtics. - Episode four of the five-part series focuses on his time spent back home again in Indiana. - Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on Apple Podcasts. - I welcome your questions and comments @ScottAgness on Twitter or via email. - Topics Discussed: - - * His daily role in working with Gordon and how they were all in it together - * How Hayward’s family was prioritized and helped keep him get through it - * Their daily routine in Boston and San Diego, which began very early - * Focusing on each session rather than a timeline to return - * Gordon’s passion for gaming - * Gordon’s Grand Gauntlet