Jayson Tatum’s late-announced absence from Saturday’s Game 7 loss dominated headlines as the Boston Celtics’ season came to an end. Even without the five-time All-NBA forward, the Celtics still nearly got across the finish line, but went cold as the Philadelphia 76ers held the door wide-open for them to take the game and series.
As much as it stings that Boston didn’t make a field goal after cutting Philly’s lead to just one with 5:02 to play, the pain worsens with the latest Tatum update.
The star forward spoke with the media on Sunday at the Auerbach Center and shared that he fully anticipated playing in a second round series against the New York Knicks, had Boston managed to get past the Sixers.
“It was definitely a day-to-day thing … It wasn't a long term thing,” he shared. “Like, I know for a fact I would have been able to play if we made it to the second round.”
Tatum, of course, was ruled out with knee stiffness in the hours leading up to tip-off. There was speculation that he was going to miss the deciding game when he exited Game 6 and headed to the Xfinity Mobile Arena locker room for treatment.
With him having recovered from the torn Achilles he sustained less than a year ago, the training staff, organization, and fan base were always going to be on high alert at the emergence of any ailment, big or small.
It sucks. Knowing that he would’ve been a full go makes these last three games feel like an even bigger missed opportunity than it already was -- especially considering how brutal dropping Game 5 was.
The safe play was the right play for the Celtics
Even so, the silver lining remains that he didn’t end up injuring himself further by playing through a risky ailment.
Now with five months of nothing ahead, Tatum will have the full offseason to get his body right ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
“I’ve shown even at 80, 85% of myself [I can make an impact]. Now getting an extended period of time to come back next season 100%, 110% ready. Get my body right, get my right calf bigger.”
Long-term health was, and should’ve been, the team’s long-term goal heading into the series-decider.
“I'm very happy that I came back to be a part of this team. Get back to doing what I love, to help, you know, help us, give us a chance to, you know, compete for a championship, to prove to myself that, you know, I can get back to being the guy who I was, and hopefully better.”
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