Remember May 12th, 2025? Jayson Tatum fell to the floor in Game 4 of Round 2 against the New York Knicks, right after dropping an insane 42 points, 8 boards, 4 dimes, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. That 2024-25 version of Tatum was hands down the best we’d ever seen, becoming the Celtics’ top scorer, passer, and rebounder while playing as well as anyone in the entire league. That’s the Tatum the Celtics are banking on this year, the guy they absolutely need.
The Epic Comeback Story
Let’s be real, Tatum’s return from that Achilles tear was an overwhelming success. Yeah, the end of the season was a bummer with the blown 3-1 lead and him sitting out Game 7, but for him to look *that* good less than a year after a major injury? That tells you everything. He’s ready to hit those elite levels again. It’s wild because his play just got better and better as the season rolled on. His numbers in the playoffs were way better than his regular season stats. Points, rebounds, assists, shooting percentages, all of it was up in that first-round series against the 76ers compared to the 16 regular season games he logged. He got stronger, he found his groove, even with that knee issue that kept him out of Game 7. Missing that game? It’s notable, probably linked to recovering from the Achilles, and yeah, it needs to be addressed. But honestly, heading into this year, there’s no real worry here. The man is back.
The Tatum & Friends Show
Here’s the deal: with Jaylen Brown gone, this is officially the Jayson Tatum show in Boston. No more ‘Jays,’ no more duo. It’s Tatum and his crew, and while his “friends” are good, it means nothing if Tatum isn’t playing at his absolute peak. His skills are just vital for this squad. His rebounding, man, it’s reached a point where nobody can call it underrated anymore. Everyone knows Tatum is a beast on the glass. He averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in those 16 regular season appearances and then bumped it up to 10.7 in six playoff games. The Celtics are gonna be crushing it on the defensive glass, and Tatum is a massive part of that. And his passing? It’s gone from good to astronomically better since he first came into the league. His playmaking is going to be HUGE. This team doesn’t have a ton of lead ball handlers, and Tatum is the reason they don’t sweat it. He’s gonna have the ball in his hands more than anyone else, by a mile, and they need his passing to be absolutely top-notch. He’s got to feed all those good shooters. Watch out for his pick and roll partnerships with Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, too; those are gonna be fire this year because his improved passing has made those connections so much sharper, just like he and Luke Kornet were one of the most efficient pairs.
This season, it’s all about Jayson Tatum delivering on that promise. He’s carrying the weight, and if he brings that 2024-25 intensity and skill, it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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