Jayson Tatum opens up about giving himself grace as he pushes for pre-injury form

That Jayson Tatum made it back to help with this year's title push is an incredible feat. That he looks as good as he does on both ends of the court is even more impressive. However, each game also offers reminders of how much room there is for growth. There are also moments of self-assurance that help the Boston Celtics star forward feel more comfortable.

"I mean, it's tough in the moment, right? You try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I'm not Superman. So, it's obviously going to take some time. I think [that] the next day, I can give myself a little more grace over certain things. But in the moment, it's frustrating," shared the six-time All-Star after Boston's 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Tatum finished the defeat with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals. However, it took him 16 shots to reach that scoring output. For the season, he's now shooting 38.8 percent from the field, including 29.3 percent from beyond the arc on 9.4 three-point attempts.

The 28-year-old forward is still an offensive engine who can create quality scoring chances for himself and his teammates. Thanks to the attention he commands from opposing defenses, he can do so for those around him without even touching the ball.

Each game is helping him heal mentally and inch closer to being the player he was before his injury. As that process plays out, his shooting struggles are the clearest example of how much room there is for growth.

He will recapture that rhythm in due time. For now, as Tatum's doing, it's important to give him grace and appreciate what he's working his way back from and where he is in that process, even while being back in uniform.

Jayson Tatum's moments of encouragement

When he was rehabbing, the St. Louis, Missouri native was doing so in a controlled environment. It was easier to identify and measure progress. Now that he's participating in NBA games again, there are more variables and significant changes to the conditions he's working in.

So how does Tatum measure progress now compared to when he was rehabbing before his season debut?

"For me, it's mental. There's a lot of things I talk to [Celtics physical therapist and athletic trainer] Nick [Sang] about," conveyed Tatum. "Just things that I notice throughout a game: certain plays, certain moments of contact, certain things of exposure. Things [like] attacking, getting downhill, the pace and speed of certain plays that just felt really normal. It felt really good, or I didn't think about it at all. Just finding more and more moments of those from game to game, that can be really exciting."

Those moments are crucial. They don't just remind Tatum of the difference between where he's at now compared to the level he was at before tearing his Achilles; they let him know he's making strides as he gradually gets back to and perhaps one day surpasses the standard he has established for himself.

"I want it to be perfect and [snaps his fingers] First Team All-NBA Jayson like that, but it's going to take time," he acknowledged. "I didn't rush the rehab process. I can't rush this."

There are only 11 games left in the regular season. However, each one Tatum plays in is a chance for him to continue his journey back to the standard he's relentlessly working to return to. It's not fair to think he'll recapture the form of a four-time All-NBA First Team selection that quickly. However, the Celtics don't need him to do so for them to reach the Finals.

Finishing a campaign spent defying external expectations with a championship might require him to get there. Perhaps Boston can lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy if Tatum gets close to that level. Either way, this isn't strictly about this season. At some point, he will be the Tatum of old. Until then, just as he's doing, it's important to give him grace and appreciate the progress that's now happening in the public eye.