Speaking at Mohegan Sun on Friday, Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh shared his thoughts on who the next American-born player to win NBA MVP might be. The last individual to do so was James Harden in 2017-18.
"Jayson Tatum, of course, but he's got his injury," said Bosh, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. "It's really, really tough, especially with a thing like the MVP trophy. You saw who I teamed up with, so it's very, very difficult. There is a section of young guys that the middle section, the guys in their mid-20s. It's their time to put their stamp on the game."
Bosh was at Mohegan Sun to represent the 2008 USA Basketball men's team, also known as "The Redeem Team." That group, which led the United States' men's basketball program back to gold, will get inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
After Tatum tore his Achilles, he vowed not to let that injury define him. Players, including Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, have produced All-Star seasons after suffering what is perhaps the most concerning injury for an athlete.
Still, winning an MVP would be quite the ascent for Tatum when he returns to the court.
A medical expert's outlook on Jayson Tatum's NBA future
Fortunately, there have been significant advancements in treating an Achilles tendon tear.
"You hear about everybody getting PRP, some getting cells, some getting fat cells, some getting stem cells, and some getting birth tissues," Leading expert in Achilles tendon repair, Dr. Kevin Stone, explained to this author. "These are all factors that we can use to accelerate tissue healing. And all of them can be added to help an Achilles tendon heal."
That is a significant part of the reason why Dr. Stone believes that Tatum can return to All-NBA form when he rejoins the Celtics' lineup. If he does, perhaps he will go on to validate Bosh's belief that he can earn league MVP.
Another factor that could help the six-time All-Star is if he underwent the SpeedBridge procedure. What he can do at this stage in his recovery suggests that it is the case.
From starting rehab and weight-bearing earlier to lowering the risk of infection, Arthrex, the company behind the SpeedBridge procedure, shared valuable insight with this author about the benefits of that operation.
That procedure and other advancements in treating a torn Achilles should have Celtics fans feeling hopeful about what the future holds for Tatum. A return to NBA stardom is attainable. Considering he's 27, if he does, perhaps an MVP is too.