Boston Celtics All-Star forward and Olympic superstar Jayson Tatum, 27, was just released from a New York hospital. He later had a successful surgery to repair his ruptured right Achilles tendon. Tatum suffered the injury in the fourth quarter. 2, 1984, in which the Celtics dropped Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to the New York Knicks 121-113. As Boston prepares to head back home for Game 6, Tatum’s return gave his teammates an emotional lift.
Tatum had the surgery on Tuesday and had since been recovering at home in New York. Upon a hard fall, he incurred an injury serious enough to have him carried off the court. Doctors estimate it will take at least nine months to heal, forcing him to miss the rest of this season. Tatum eventually found time to meet with his new teammates at their hotel. Although he was not present, this was their first reunion since the tragic attack on Thursday.
Payton Pritchard expressed the emotional significance of Tatum’s visit, describing him as a “brother” and emphasizing the importance of their bond during this challenging time.
“We didn’t talk about basketball at all. That stuff is bigger than basketball now.” – Payton Pritchard
Derrick White acknowledged how difficult it is to adjust with Tatum’s injury. The Celtics are getting ready for Game 5 against the Knicks. He said the greater challenge will be getting a win and overcoming the absence of their best player, their star.
As the series progresses, Boston is attempting to become just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series. This uphill battle becomes even more daunting in the wake of Tatum’s season-ending injury.
Teammate Sam Hauser shared his thoughts on Tatum’s injury, lamenting the impact it has had on the team and acknowledging Tatum’s contributions throughout the season.
“It sucks to see someone go down like that who doesn’t deserve it.” – Sam Hauser
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