"I still got a long way to go. But this was a really good step. It's been a long time coming just to get to this point. Nights and days I dreamed about this moment and anticipation, the crowd. It's been 42 and a half weeks since I played in an NBA game, so just trying to get caught up on the speed and everything."
"I just kind of felt like I was a step off or moving too fast. But the game started to slow down as I just kind of relaxed a little bit. I really was just kind of grateful. I had a real sense of gratitude of just being back on the floor, playing basketball."
Jayson Tatum made his season debut for the Boston Celtics after more than 10 months of recovery from Achilles tendon surgery, returning on the faster end of the typical nine to 12-month rehabilitation timeline. He started slowly, going 0-for-6 from the field while feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the game's pace. After a put-back dunk with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter, Tatum relaxed and found his rhythm, making six of his next 10 shots. He finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in 27 minutes during Boston's 120-100 victory over Dallas. Tatum expressed gratitude for his return and acknowledged he still has significant progress ahead in his recovery.
Read at ESPN.com
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