Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The procedure took place Tuesday afternoon after Tatum suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter of Monday`s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks.
The team confirmed the surgery was successful but stated that a timetable for his return is not yet available.
Tatum`s injury occurred with three minutes remaining in the game. He was in the midst of a standout performance, having scored 42 points on 16-for-28 shooting, before collapsing on the court in significant pain.
Unable to put any weight on his foot, he was helped off the court. Following the game, the primary concern shifted from the defending champions facing elimination to Tatum`s health.
Celtics center Al Horford expressed the team`s focus, saying, “At this point, I`m concerned about Jayson. That`s the most important to me. The game stuff, we`ll address it. But I`m just hoping that he`s OK.”
Since being drafted third overall by Boston in 2017, the 27-year-old Tatum has been a remarkably durable and successful player. He is anticipated to be named to his fourth consecutive All-NBA first team, a recognition achieved by only a limited number of players in league history.
His 42-point effort against the Knicks marked the fifth time he has scored at least 40 points in a playoff game, tying Celtics Hall of Famers Larry Bird and John Havlicek for the franchise record.
Last season, Tatum led the team in points, rebounds, and assists during their run to securing the franchise`s 18th NBA championship. He has played more games than any other player in the league since his draft class and has won gold medals with Team USA at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
According to ESPN Research, Tatum ranks second only to LeBron James in total playoff points scored through the age of 27.
This injury represents a significant setback for the Celtics, impacting their current playoff run where they hoped to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the fourth consecutive season. It also casts doubt on his availability for the upcoming season.
The team now faces the challenge of recovering from the loss of their key player, in addition to overcoming disappointment from multiple double-digit leads that slipped away in the series against the Knicks.
Center Kristaps Porzingis commented on the difficult situation after the loss, stating, “Obviously we all felt for him in that moment, but we just have to keep going, we have to keep playing. Obviously we all realized in our heads what this could mean, but again, this is part of the sport, it`s tough, and it`s hard to see and hard to accept the truth. But, it is what it is and we have to go forward with what we have now.” Achilles tendon injuries are known to be among the most serious in basketball, with recovery often requiring extensive rehabilitation, as seen with other notable players throughout NBA history.