Here's a topic worth debating for Boston Celtics fans. What's been the most miraculous: Jayson Tatum's return, how good he has looked since he returned, or how good the Celtics looked without him? The fact that such a discussion is very subjective shows how unbelievable this season has been.
Among those who raved about Tatum's story this season has been Celtics alum Gordon Hayward, who played with Tatum from 2017 to 2020, though to be honest, they only really got to play together for one season.
During his conversation on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Hayward raved about Tatum's recovery, praising him for the steps he took to get back on the floor, how good he has looked, and modern medicine for helping him get back.
“I think it’s a credit to him and his work ethic.” ☘️
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2026
Gordon Hayward joins @SiriusXMNBA's Starting Lineup with @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine to share his thoughts on Jayson Tatum's remarkable return to the court just 10 months after his Achilles injury. pic.twitter.com/hIxid2iTwp
Hayward knows what Tatum went through, as he suffered an injury around the same class as an Achilles tear in his first game as a Celtic (coincidentally, Tatum's first NBA game), and while that set the course for Tatum to prove to Boston the kind of player they had, Hayward's recovery was arguably even more grueling than Tatum's.
Hayward's Celtics praise didn't stop there
Hayward also spoke with CLNS Media's Noa Dalzell the next day, where he continued to praise Tatum while also praising Boston for how well they endured without him.
Gordon Hayward on the #Celtics and Jayson Tatum's return:
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) March 14, 2026
"I'm just happy for him that he's back out there ... I think it's a blessing they're able to keep it going. I think you gotta credit Joe Mazzulla and how he's gotten the boys playing. JB and Payton Pritchard, Derrick… pic.twitter.com/Mz4FR63URZ
Hayward not only knows what it's like to go through a long and tough recovery, but he also knows what it's like to see the Celtics succeed despite missing one of its best players, as Boston exceeded all expectations despite losing him for the entire season while losing Kyrie Irving for the playoffs.
It really is a shame that Hayward's time in Boston is marked by coulda, shoulda, woulda. Signing him after he came off his best year as a pro was a bigger deal than most remember, but it was overshadowed by the Kyrie trade.
No, that's not a shot at Irving, because it was a big deal that Boston got him, but such a monumental trade simply overlooked Hayward, who was the best unrestricted free agent on the market, not to mention that he had a well-documented history with Brad Stevens.
Even when he finally started looking like his old self again, it had become clear that the Celtics were Tatum's team. The Hayward era didn't exactly end well, but it's clear that he has no hard feelings towards Boston when it was all said and done.
The fact that he praises Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Joe Mazzulla, and all the rest of the players in Boston shows that he still looks back on his time in Boston pretty fondly.