The latest Jayson Tatum discourse completely misses the mark

Frankly, Jayson Tatum playing in Game 7 against the Sixers could have been a fireable offense. It wasn't safe for him to be out there. Clearing him would have put the Celtics' window of contention, with him at the heart of their ability to vie for championships, at risk. They could have exposed themselves to that possibility only to see him get injured early in the matchup.

One of Tatum's legs is bigger than the other. Whether it was the back of his knee, as the team listed, or his left calf, the side he's overcompensating on is compromised. And some people thought he should've gone out there? The risk was too steep. The stakes of the matchup don't change that.

At Brad Stevens' end-of-season press conference, the franchise's president of basketball operations conveyed, "He didn't do very much on Friday, just rested, and then came in on Saturday morning and tried to do a workout. I watched it, and [he] clearly didn't feel right."

No one wanted Boston's star forward to be on the floor that day more than he did. It's the same individual who said during rehab that he would play on the side of the road if the team would allow it. After returning, he repeatedly expressed his gratitude for being able to do what he loved again. However, when the Celtics' medical team and Joe Mazzulla declared him inactive, as devastating as that decision must have been for him, he understood why and had no choice but to accept it.

"I worked really, really, really hard to come back in the fashion that I did, and play at the level I was playing at. For it to end the way it did is a tough pill to swallow," said Tatum during exit interviews at the Auerbach Center.

The discourse about Jayson Tatum not playing in Game 7 is off the mark

Kevin Garnett questioned why the six-time All-Star didn't suit up with his team's season on the line.

"That's what we doin'?" He said, in response to Paul Pierce on a recent edition of Ticket & The Truth, telling him that there have been too many instances of individuals like Kevin Durant playing through these warning signs, only to suffer a major injury. "What could happen?"

Many have voiced a similar sentiment. However, the reality is that the only reason sympathy and understanding are taking a backseat in the conversation about Tatum not playing in Game 7 is that he redefined what's possible.

As Dr. Kevin Stone, a leading expert in Achilles tendon repairs, told Hardwood Houdini, "We, in the sports medicine side of this world, have learned so much from our athletes who've really pushed the limits; taken our advice, but didn't follow it to a T. And we learned from them about what's possible."

The four-time All-NBA First Team selection returned in 10 months. He made his season debut in early March. By the end of the month, his minutes were in the high 30s. He averaged 36.3 in the playoffs and logged at least 40 in two of the six tilts he played in against the Sixers. Tatum's performance at both ends of the floor was impressive. He didn't want to return as a role player; he didn't. He was once again a star.

People saw the burden he could carry and the level he was playing at and could not believe he wasn't able to join his teammates on the parquet for Game 7. Again, no one wanted him out there more than he did.

The reality is that, as remarkable as his return was this season, it would have been reckless to clear him for that contest. The timing of his setback couldn't have been worse. However, at least it was only a day-to-day injury. He said at exit interviews that if Boston prevailed, he would've been able to play in the second round against the Knicks.

That adds to the sting of not having him with the season on the line. However, it also signals that this won't get in the way of the progress he can make in the coming months. If he looked this impressive now, imagine the level he can reach by next October?

"I get a long offseason to really get back to 110 percent, I guess that's the silver lining of it all," expressed Tatum. "I'm proud of the fact I was able to prove to myself that I can still play this game at a very, very high level, even not being 100 percent of myself," he continued. "Checking that box off mentally, because that was a question in my head. There was doubts of, 'Will I be able to be the same player? Will I be able to play at a high level after this injury?' Now, I've proven it and shown that, even at 80/85 percent of myself."

So, while it must have been torture for him to sit on the sideline and watch Game 7 as a spectator, unable to change the outcome, he enters the summer with peace of mind, a renewed confidence, and a body of work this season that he can be proud of. And instead of risking that these last several months were the highlight of his return, they can be the first stepping stone in his continued pursuit of championships and the best version of himself.

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