Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum shared his immediate reaction to his Achilles tear in an interview with People. The 27-year-old described sitting alone and crying for two hours as he processed the injury.
Tatum said, “So many things ran through my mind: ‘Damn, is my career over? Am I going to get traded? Are all my partners going to drop me?’ My basketball career flashed in front of my eyes.”
The forward suffered the non-contact injury on May 12 during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. He tore his Achilles while diving for a loose ball late in the fourth quarter.
Surgery followed the next day, and Tatum has since been committed to rehab. He is working out six days a week, focusing on regaining strength and mobility.
Despite the severity of the injury, Tatum has not ruled out playing in the 2025–26 NBA season. “Not rushing it. But I haven’t said like, ‘Yo, I’m not playing this season,’ or anything like that,” he said on The Today Show.
The Celtics enter the new season without Tatum on a definite timeline, presenting a major challenge for the franchise. Boston will also miss the Christmas Day showcase for the first time since 2015.
Before the injury, Tatum was performing at an elite level. In 72 regular-season games, he averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, while his playoff performances included three straight 35-point games against Orlando.
Tatum also earned an All-Star starter spot for the third consecutive year and matched Larry Bird and John Havlicek with multiple 40-point playoff games in franchise history.
Boston will rely on All-NBA guard Jaylen Brown and newly acquired Anfernee Simons to carry the offensive load in Tatum’s absence. The team also added rookies Hugo González and Noah Penda in the 2025 NBA Draft to bolster depth.
Tatum’s recovery and potential midseason return will be pivotal to the Celtics’ championship aspirations. “I’m in my prime, one of the best basketball players in the world, and it felt like it was all taken away,” he said, reflecting on the emotional toll of the injury.
