Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered a season ending Achilles harm. What does this imply for the Celtics’ playoff hopes?
As soon as the unsung heroes of Boston, the Celtics now discover themselves on the point of elimination. With Jayson Tatum sidelined, the way forward for the franchise is up within the air. Is it the top of an period in Boston?
Down 2-1 within the Jap Convention Semifinals, the Celtics held a safe 69-58 lead in opposition to the Knicks on Monday. Up by 11, Jayson Tatum knocked down a 26-foot 3-pointer to increase the lead.
As for a lot of the collection, the Celtics have been infamous by way of the collection for squandering a number of double-digit leads. This was no completely different in Recreation 4 after the Knicks exploded for a 37 third quarter domination. Within the matchup, Brunson and Tatum continued to go toe-to-toe on the Backyard.
That is Tatum’s First Main Damage in Eight Seasons
The comeback can be larger than the setback 💚 pic.twitter.com/r7r92lBb93
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) Might 14, 2025
Heading into the fourth quarter, Tatum was having some of the full video games of his profession. All till Celtics and basketball followers witnessed a travesty. Down 113-104 with 2:58 remaining within the fourth quarter, Tatum suffered a non-contact harm whereas preventing for a free ball in opposition to OG Anunoby. Grimacing in ache, Tatum was helped off the court docket.
On social media, Celtics President of Operations and Normal Supervisor Brad Stevens was seen aiding Tatum into the gamers tunnel. The act reveals how invested the franchise is in it is gamers.
The following day, the crew introduced Jayson Tatum underwent instant surgical procedure to restore a ruptured proper Achilles tendon. Per the Celtics, Tatum is predicted to make a full restoration. Whereas the surgical procedure information got here forward of the harm analysis, crew reported there ‘isn’t any timetable’ out there for his return.
Here is a video of Celtics GM Brad Stevens serving to Jayson Tatum final night time (from u/JeezusChristIII on Celtics subreddit): pic.twitter.com/kayjEw8ypb
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) Might 13, 2025
Tatum is the newest NBA participant to go down with an Achilles harm. He joins Damian Lillard, Dejounte Murray, Dru Smith, James Wiseman, and Isaiah Jackson—who’ve all handled the identical harm this season
On Wednesday, Tatum broke his silence concerning the harm on social media.
“Grateful for all of the love and assist,”wrote Tatum on his private Instagram.
Though the Celtics conceded to the Knicks, Tatum was having a kind of most full video games of his profession. By means of 40 minutes, No. 0 erupted for 42 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and two blocks. Within the collection, Tatum averaged 25 factors, 11.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, one block, and a couple of.8 steals.
Tatum’s Sturdiness Units Him Aside
JAYSON TATUM 🔥
51 Factors (31 1st Half)18/28 Shooting9 Threes (Profession-Excessive)10 Rebounds7 Assists1 TurnoverIn simply 33 Minutes
pic.twitter.com/oD9yhNkIi9
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 23, 2022
Tatum is thought to be some of the sturdy gamers within the NBA. Vocal about not lacking video games, even on the street—Tatum has solely missed 51 out of 585 common season video games with the Celtics. Drafted No.3. general within the 2017 NBA Draft by Boston, Tatum’s reliability and iron-willed dedication has made him a fan favourite among the many league. We’re speaking a few participant who missed his first profession playoff matchup within the final spherical vs Orlando.
In keeping with Shams Charania, Tatum has performed probably the most mixed common season and playoff video games (706) of any participant within the NBA since he was drafted in 2017. In his eight years with the Celtics, the previous Duke star is an NBA Champion, and led Boston to 2 finals look. Because the franchise star of the Celtics, he’s led them to the playoffs yearly since he was drafted.
Higher but, nobody has spent extra time than Tatum on the hardwood since he entered the NBA.
With Father Time catching as much as LeBron James, the face of the NBA has change into a extensively mentioned subject. Jayson Tatum, together with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, has been widely known as a possible future face of the league.
What Tatum’s Damage Means for the Celtics’ Future
An harm like this reveals simply how shortly the course can change for groups in sports activities. After ending second within the Jap Convention with a 61-21 file, the Celtics had been optimistic about repeating as champions.
Even earlier than the harm, it was clear the Celtics would wish to make main strikes to enhance their monetary construction within the offseason. Working below the second apron, this doubtless implies that Kristaps Porzingis, Sam Hauser, or Jrue Vacation have performed their last video games in inexperienced and white.
In keeping with Spotrac, the Celtics are over $58,000,000 in cap area and it is unclear if the Celtics will qualify or apply for the Disabled Participant Exception. With a brand new proprietor set to happen, the Celtics beginning 5 can be headed in direction of a mixed $200 million payroll subsequent season. In keeping with Charania, the Celtics payroll is ‘approaching’ $500 million.
There was a lot anticipation this group might run it again once more, even favored by sportsbooks to win all of it by way of the top of the season. With the information comes numerous questions. The Celtics acknowledged there is not a timeline, nevertheless, we have seen athletes recuperate from an Achilles wherever from 8-12 months previously.
Celtics’ Monetary Limitations Loom Over Boston’s Offseason Plans
Down 1-3 in opposition to the Knicks, the Celtics’ playoff hopes are more than likely over. Tonight, they get an opportunity to clap again at residence—however even then, can Boston pull this off with out Tatum? Almost definitely not. If that is the case, the championship window has doubtless closed for this group. That’s to not say the Boston Celtics are nonetheless the 2024 NBA Champions.
Theres’ one factor to know—Jayson Tatum stays the star of this franchise, and Brad Stevens is a mastermind in terms of drafting and crafting a crew. Nonetheless, with a devastating harm to Tatum and new possession, “completely different right here” might have a complete new that means. The monetary aspect of issues have loomed over the franchise for fairly a while.
With that comes the million-dollar query: Will the Celtics break up the Jays? Jaylen Brown, drafted No. 3 by the Celtics in 2016, has remained a part of the core alongside Jayson Tatum. Set to make over $57 million subsequent season, Brown simply completed the second yr of the five-year, $304 million extension he signed in 2023. Tatum lately signed a 5-year $313 million contract final summer season.
Whether or not the Celtics resolve to blow it up or hold core gamers round, their hand can be pressured financially. With 11 straight playoff appearances, the Celtics have been some of the deadly forces within the NBA as of late. Beneath Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have completed within the prime 2 of the Jap Convention yearly.
Is It the Finish of an Period for the Boston Celtics?
At simply 27 years outdated, Tatum hasn’t absolutely hit the prime of his profession but. In years previous, the basketball world witnessed Warriors star Kevin Durant rupture his Achilles throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Finals. Though struggling the harm after the age of 30, Durant returned to the hardwood at a excessive degree.
With youth on his aspect, Tatum will more than likely miss a piece of subsequent season, if not all of it. Which means the Celtics should discover all choices outdoors of Tatum. Having retained a 2025 first spherical choose, the Celtics could also be pressured to rebuild by way of the draft. Except for the No. 28 general choose, Boston owns the No. 32 choose (second spherical) within the upcoming draft.
With Al Horford and Luke Kornet set to change into a free agent in 2025, Kristaps Porzingis is about to change into a free agent in 2026. Whenever you analyze it this manner, the Celtics frontcourt might appear vastly completely different within the close to future. This implies the Celtics could rely extra on guys equivalent to Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman.
Tatum’s harm provides to a protracted checklist of Celtics accidents over time. Although the franchise is thought for successful—its historical past additionally consists of a number of devastating illnesses. Celtics followers have witnessed ugly accidents to Gordon Hayward (leg), Larry Chicken (again), and Kevin McHale (foot), simply to call a couple of.
Although the skies stay ominous in Beantown, we’re wishing Jayson Tatum a full and speedy restoration. Thought-about some of the gifted scorers in basketball, Tatum has achieved a lot success and private accolades at such a younger age.
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Author, Journalist, Content material Creator, Managing Editor, and Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a deal with the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at the moment resides within the Connecticut/NYC space together with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
