Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Achilles Injury: “I Thought I Might Be Done”
Jayson Tatum has always been a cornerstone for the Boston Celtics - a player whose game has steadily evolved into one of the most complete in the league. But even for a star of his caliber, the road back from a major injury can be as mentally daunting as it is physically grueling. And in a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Tatum pulled back the curtain on just how tough that road has been.
The Celtics forward, who went down with an Achilles injury during last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New York Knicks, revealed that the initial aftermath left him questioning whether he’d ever play again.
“Sitting in that doctor’s office, and seeing the doctor put that MRI scan and seeing that line through my tendon,” Tatum said, “I just remember sitting there and I broke down crying. And I remember saying like, ‘man, I can’t do this.’”
For Tatum, it wasn’t just the injury - it was the timing. He believed he was playing the best basketball of his career.
“I felt like this was the best version of Jayson Tatum that has ever been,” he continued. “And now it’s like, ‘damn, I got to start over.’”
That sense of starting over hit hard. Tatum admitted he spent weeks reflecting on his career, asking himself the kind of questions no athlete ever wants to face: *Did I make enough money?
Did I accomplish enough? *
“There were some moments, laying in my house with my foot up, where I thought like, ‘damn, I might be done,’” Tatum said.
It’s a stark look into the mental toll that a serious injury can take - not just the pain, not just the rehab, but the uncertainty. For a player who had been dominating on the court just weeks earlier, the contrast was jarring.
During the Celtics’ playoff run, Tatum was averaging 28.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He was shooting 42.3% from the field, 37.2% from deep, and nearly 89% from the line.
Those are MVP-caliber numbers, and they weren’t empty stats - they were powering Boston’s push through the postseason.
But then came the Achilles tear, and everything stopped.
What helped Tatum begin to shift his mindset? His mother. He credited her with grounding him, helping him realize that despite the setback, his story wasn’t finished.
That kind of support system can be everything in recovery - especially for a player who’s spent his entire adult life chasing greatness. And while there’s still no official word on whether Tatum will return to the court this season, a recent workout video circulating on social media has Celtics fans buzzing. In it, Tatum looks fluid, confident - like a player slowly rediscovering his rhythm.
Of course, there’s a long way to go. Achilles injuries are notoriously difficult to come back from, and every step forward is hard-earned.
But if there’s one thing Tatum’s candid reflections make clear, it’s that he’s not just rehabbing a leg - he’s rebuilding belief. And for Boston, that belief could be the first step toward something special.