After capturing a championship in 2024, this season had a much different ending for the Boston Celtics. Along with failing to go back-to-back, Jayson Tatum suffered a devastating Achilles injury during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Now facing a long road to recovery, one Hall of Famer took the time to express his support for the star forward.
If there is one person who understands what Tatum is going through right now, it’s Dominique Wilkins. He suffered a similar injury in 1992, costing him 10 months of his career. Despite facing such a major setback in his early 30s, the Atlanta Hawks legend managed to return and play at a high level for a few more seasons.
During a recent interview with the Boston Globe, Wilkins was asked about his recovery journey as Tatum attempts to return to form. He cited a strong work ethic as a driving force, which is why he’s confident the Celtics star can overcome his current situation.
“I worked twice a day every day for nine months and came back quicker than anybody,” Wilkins said. “But it was my level of commitment and Jayson is a kid that loves the game and I have a lot of respect and am a fan of his. I have no doubt that he’s going to put in the work to get back to the same level he was.”
Tatum has a lot going for him compared to Wilkins when he suffered this injury back in the 90’s. For starters, he is much younger than the NBA legend was when the setback occurred. Also, medicine and physical therapy have advanced greatly over the past three decades.
Seeing that he is a pillar of the franchise and isn’t far removed from signing a historic contract, the Celtics are sure to do everything they can to aid Tatum in his recovery. Being sidelined for an extended period is a tough blow, but the franchise is far from in a doomsday scenario. Tatum and Jaylen Brown are still in the early stages of their primes, giving Boston a long runway. Even with him out until at least the later portion of next season, the duo has more than ample time to compete for more championships together.
In the meantime, all Tatum can do is continue to work diligently behind the scenes in hopes of getting his NBA career back on track in 2026 and beyond.
