Kevin Durant recounts how Jayson Tatum rehabilitated, but it was somewhat different from his own experience.
After the Houston Rockets dethroned the Boston Celtics with a blowout win, 128-101, on Saturday night, the two-time NBA champion is still in top shape as he led his team with 26 points despite rupturing his Achilles tendon back in the 2019 Finals.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics superstar is still in his rehabilitation, where he aims to achieve the same level of fitness as Durant, who has managed to remain in top shape despite a major injury history.
Durant discussed how Tatum’s recovery differs from his own, as medicine has advanced significantly over the past five years.
“I wouldn’t say I felt that confident to dunk the ball,” Durant said of his recovery after six months. “I don’t remember if I was that far along in my journey, but medicine has advanced so much since I had Achilles. Jayson looks like he’s just killing the rehab, and he looks great.”
The 2025 NBA playoffs were just months ago when Tatum’s injury occurred, but he has now made significant progress in his rehabilitation.
“You don’t see a limp, For somebody who just had an Achilles surgery in the playoffs, he looks amazing. Hopefully, continue to progress and he gets better and get back on the court soon. The game misses him, the NBA misses him, just, you know, all world talent, man, so looking forward to have him back on the floor,” Durant added.
The former MVP just assured that Tatum will be back soon, although there is no timeline yet for when that will be, as the Celtics struggle to find their consistency early in the season.
“I think it’s feasible, but I think, it’s good to have that option on the table to know that he can come back, but it’s such a long ways away from now. I just feel like he’s just taking it day by day and see what happens with the team, see what happens with his body, make a decision at a later date,” Durant said.
For the 2024 NBA champion, he believes in going through his own process, rather than trying to compare it to others’ recovery timelines.
“That’s one of these experiences you gotta just go through on your own,” Tatum said. “You can get as much advice as you want, but you know it’s just you out there when you rehabbing. You got somebody there telling you what to do, but it’s you out there putting them reps in, so you know, focus on yourself and not try to get too much advice from people just kind of go through it on his own, and that’s what it seems like he’s doing. He’s in a good space.”
