Jayson Tatum singles out Celtics hero for his part in recovery

It shouldn't be forgotten how miraculous it is that Jayson Tatum returned to play for the Boston Celtics this season. Just like it shouldn't be forgotten that Tatum playing against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden for the first time since tearing his Achilles there was going to be super hard for him emotionally.

Part of his recovery would certainly take getting the proper push, and from the horse's mouth, he got one. Before the Celtics' hard-fought loss to the Knicks last night, Tatum admitted to Amazon Prime's Taylor Rooks that it was a chat with Xavier Tillman that gave him the confidence to return.

This is further proof of two things: One, making a full recovery requires the right support system, and that's what exactly what Tillman did for Tatum. Two, players like Tillman can be important for contenders, even if what they do isn't seen on the basketball court.

Having a winner typically requires a good locker room where everyone gets along and is on the same page. Tillman provided that for them. Boston may have traded him at the deadline, but that was more about giving themselves options than it was about any issues with his role on the team.

Tillman's Celtics legacy just got even more memorable

Even though he hadn't really helped Boston on the court since the 2024 title run, Tillman's legacy as a Celtic is still rock solid. Everyone remembers how he helped them mitigate the absence of Kristaps Porzingis at times, but they especially remember his performance against Dallas in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

But knowing what he was doing for Tatum behind the scenes makes him even more memorable as a Celtic. So much so that for his presence alone, no one should put it past Boston to bring him back when they are permitted to. Whether as a player or as a personnel, it's clear Tillman left his mark on the Celtics.

They've done something like that before. Remember when Evan Turner only spent two seasons in Boston, but because his time as a Celtic resonated so much, he came back as a coach four years after he left? Who's to say Tillman couldn't follow in his footsteps.

We have seen players stay with a team longer than they should have primarily because the team liked what he brought to the team in terms of veteran leadership. Look at Udonis Haslem in Miami. Tillman doesn't have that pull necessarily, but it's clear from Tatum's words here how much Tillman's words meant to him.

For that, never say never on a Tillman reunion.