Jayson Tatum’s astonishing return to the court this season after a devastating Achilles injury remains one of the major headlines of the season.
The Boston Celtics’ mainstay missed a major part of the season as he recovered from the injury he sustained last year during the playoffs. But his return as bolstered the team’s two-way play, making them a lethal threat as they enter the postseason.
NBA Insider Lauds Celtics’ Decision to Add Jayson Tatum to the Fold Midseason
Speaking on SiriusXM, league insider Marc Stein believed the Celtics had struck gold by adding Tatum back to the mix as the regular season inched to a close.
“What he is, is the best midseason acquisition any team has made,” Stein said.”You can’t do better than adding Jayson Tatum, even at 80 percent, to your team in March.
Tatum’s return comes as a major boost as the Celtics look to make a serious bid for the championship. After last winning in 2024, the iconic franchise was expected to have a down year this season with Tatum’s injury and a slew of trades that saw their title pieces moved to different teams. But with Jaylen Brown in scintillating form, the Celtics kept themselves in the playoff mix.
As for Tatum, despite battling rust upon his injury return, the Celtics superstar hit his stride to earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors earlier. The nod came on the back of his pristine 32-point outing in the team’s 114-99 decimation of the Charlotte Hornets. Tatum also recorded five rebounds, eight assists, and a block in his 31 minutes on the floor.
Speaking to reporters after the win, Tatum stressed the importance of wanting to be on the floor for his team. “It’s huge,” Tatum said, per The Athletic.
“Obviously, playing for the Celtics, the main goal is winning the championship, but you don’t take it for granted. It’s my ninth (consecutive) year going to the playoffs. Especially now more than ever, basketball was taken away from me, so you never want to take a season, a game, or making the playoffs for granted. It’s hard to win in this league.”
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This season, Tatum has laced up in 11 games for Boston and is averaging 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.0 minutes per contest. He didn’t take the floor against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday due to injury management, but the Celtics managed to bag their 50th win of the season with a 112-102 victory.
With their star forward back in the fold, the Celtics will fancy their chances of making a deeper run in the playoffs. Even if they do end up with an early exit, their resilience and Tatum’s will be one of the highlights of the season.
