Last year, Jayson Tatum arrived at training camp at the Auerbach Center months removed from his Achilles tear. While the work he put into his recovery was inspiring, his injury rendered him a spectator.
As the Boston Celtics star attacked his rehab, he often watched from the weight room as his teammates went through practice. Not being on the court with them was tough.
Now, he had a summer to strengthen his right leg. He built on the confidence from what he proved to himself at 80 percent last season. Still measuring his progress and the distance since his injury, Tatum is now six days from the 17-month mark.
No longer forced to watch from a distance, he is a full participant at training camp. Free to be out there with his teammates, the six-time All-Star is embracing this year's regular-season ramp-up even more.
Jayson Tatum's Achilles recovery shifts camp perspective
Tuesday, the Celtics held their final day of training camp in Charleston, South Carolina. They're just two days before their preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
As the former Duke Blue Devil met with the media, the 28-year-old from St. Louis, Missouri, discussed his deeper appreciation for this fall's training camp.
"A different type of joy that I have now than I did [in] my first eight seasons," said Tatum in an availability that can be seen in full on CLNS Media.
As the years fly by, Jayson Tatum remains present
Speaking at the Auerbach Center before the Celtics departed for The Citadel, the four-time All-NBA First Team selection looked back on his NBA journey.
It's hard to believe that he is already entering his 10th season in the league. For Tatum, the years have flown by. He remembers his first training camp at Newport, Rhode Island, like it was yesterday.
Seeing how quickly the years go by, the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft does his best to stay present and enjoy the moment. Having the game he loves taken away by an Achilles tear adds to that appreciation. Tatum knows as well as anyone not to take being out there with his teammates at training camp for granted.
Battling back from such a devastating injury has only strengthened how much he treasures basketball. It likely made it even easier to focus on and enjoy each day. Because just as the Celtics' star blinked and reached his tenth season, the ride doesn't slow down. That's why Tatum is savoring every time he takes the court.
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