Jayson Tatum knew this was coming. While currently sidelined, the Celtics’ superstar dropped a “truth bomb” regarding teammate Jaylen Brown’s explosive season, admitting he had “no doubt” that the roster would flourish even with its leading scorer on the mend.
“It’s been great,” Tatum told reporters via Noa Dalzell. “Even before the season, there was no doubt in my mind that he, and P [Payton Pritchard] and D-White and all these guys-I knew what they were capable of.”
“Whenever somebody who loves the game that much and works as hard as they do gains more opportunity, I’m not surprised by what they’ve been able to accomplish. It’s been really fun to see.”
The battle in Big D
Tatum’s comments come on the heels of a statement 110-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The contest was a heavyweight clash between the league’s established royalty and its brightest new star.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with a commanding 33 points and 11 rebounds, ultimately outlasting a brilliant 36-point, 9-rebound effort from Mavericks rookie phenom Cooper Flagg.
Despite a brief moment of on-court frustration caught on a hot mic during the game, Brown was quick to show respect to the 19-year-old Flagg during a post-game livestream, describing the rookie’s poise and skill as “spectacular.”
The Celtics’ continued dominance has provided a stable environment for Tatum as he navigates the grueling recovery process from a ruptured Achilles.
Tatum’s road to recovery
In a major milestone for the franchise, Tatum has officially progressed to controlled 5-on-5 scrimmaging with the coaching staff.
While Tatum is “aggressively attacking” his rehab, the organization remains disciplined. With Boston firmly entrenched as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, there is no internal pressure to rush his return.
Tatum echoed the team’s confidence, telling Celtics Blog: “We’ve been one of the best teams all season. And we’ll continue being one of the best teams.”
As the Celtics maintain their championship-level play, the focus remains on checking every medical box for Tatum. His return to 5-on-5 play suggests the “high-stakes” portion of his comeback is imminent, potentially rejoining a squad that has proven it can win big without him.
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