Let’s see … what’s the most 2025 way to finally get an update about a superstar player trying to return from a catastrophic injury?
Ah yes, him on a media tour after partnering with a pharmaceutical company to promote a painkiller.
And with that, Jayson Tatum appeared on NBC’s “Jenna and Friends” and ESPN’s “First Take” to talk about his Achilles injury, the rehab process, and the potential for coming back.
At least the painkiller is a non-opioid. I’m actually happy to hear that.
Tatum is finally talking about the moment he tore his Achilles tendon against the New York Knicks in May.
“So many things ran through my mind, especially on the ground,” Tatum told Jenna Bush. “I'm in New York, we're trying to compete for our second championship, and just like that, it all changes. … it was a hard pill to swallow. I was devastated, I was sad, I was emotional … I kind of felt betrayed by the game of basketball. It's something I love so much, that I gave my all to, that was just kind of like taken away.”
As devastating as the injury is, this feeling Tatum describes might be the biggest issue he has to overcome. There's no standard cure for a feeling of betrayal. Tatum’s Achilles was sewn back together by the best in the business and using a technique that could easily bring him right back to where he was before.
But that mental hurdle is a high one. Mentally, it’s like a cheating spouse or another betrayal of trust. If that trust is never regained, it will be hard to salvage that relationship.
“It's phases,” he said on ESPN. “I think the first phase is accepting that this happened. I was in disbelief for about two weeks. And the other tough part was, ever since I was a kid, I could always envision myself getting drafted, winning the championship, having my own shoe, the cover of 2K, all those things. This was the first time it was hard.
“I'm sitting there at my mom's house with my foot elevated, and it's like, it was hard to envision playing basketball, it was hard to envision walking up steps. And I think that was kind of like defeated in that moment. It’s things like that that were some low moments throughout this journey.”
This is a big reason why I hope he comes back this season. Tatum today said the same thing I’ve been saying from the beginning, that no one is pushing for any skipped steps or rushed clearance. Every step along the way needs to be vetted, scrutinized, and unanimously agreed upon as completed. I, and clearly Tatum as well, just happen to think all those steps can be done before this season is over.
“I think for me and my team, the doctor, the organization, the most important thing is making the full recovery, right? Being back 100%, not rushing it,” Tatum explained. “But I haven't said I'm not playing this season or anything like that. I have a goal in my mind. What I will say is, I'm not working out, rehabbing six days a week for no reason.”
Tatum coming back this season would let him figure out the next steps of his mental rehab as much as it helps him get back to his normal self.
I’d much rather Tatum flail around for 20 minutes a game at the end of a season that doesn’t really matter than start next season going through PTSD moments on the floor in one of the few remaining years of an open championship window.
Let Tatum freeze on the court if he has to. Let him shy away from contact if that's what his body is telling him to do. Let him take the mental notes of how his body is reacting, physically and mentally, process all the information, and let him take all of that into May, June, July, and August.
If he’s lost a step, then let him figure out how to get it back or how to work with it. If he’s lost his edge, then let him take the time to understand how that's happened and find his way out of it. There's no better time or place for him to do that than a post-All-Star return for what will essentially become an extended rehab process.
It’s clear that Tatum wants that, too. If he has completed all the steps necessary to get back on the floor, then he should get it. He’s not only earning that with the daily rehab work, it will be best for the team in the long run. Tatum gets that, and he’s looking forward to getting that moment.
“I'm feeling better than I did yesterday,” he said. “It's been a long, long journey, but I tell people all the time, I'm getting there.”