"He's returning because his goal has always been to be able to play meaningful basketball this season. That's why Tatum had surgery the morning after he tore his Achilles at Madison Square Garden, before swelling set in that would've cost him another month of time. It was something he learned from studying the experience of his idol, Kobe Bryant, who detailed his recovery from an Achilles injury in a documentary."
"Tatum has led the Celtics in shot attempts in each of the past six seasons; the last Celtics player to shoot the ball more frequently than Tatum was Kyrie Irving in 2018-19. So with such a high-volume player reentering the Boston rotation, one of the biggest questions is how Jaylen Brown will adjust, as he has entered the fringes of the MVP conversation by taking on a much greater role."
Six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum is set to return for the Boston Celtics on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, marking his first appearance this season following a right Achilles tear suffered in the second-round playoffs against the New York Knicks. Tatum underwent surgery immediately after the injury to expedite recovery, inspired by Kobe Bryant's documented Achilles rehabilitation. His return comes as the Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference with weeks remaining in the regular season. The timing of his comeback reflects his commitment to playing meaningful basketball this season, though he had to overcome significant mental hurdles about trusting his body again. His reintegration into the rotation raises questions about how teammate Jaylen Brown, who has assumed a larger role and entered MVP conversations, will adjust to Tatum's return.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]