According to Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum, the nagging shoulder injury that bothered him throughout the 2022 NBA Finals is firmly behind him. The Celtics forward offered a full update at this year’s Media Day proceedings when asked about the issue.
Tatum told Celtics Wire back in August he believed his shoulder injury was a thing of the past when his health came up, and by all indications that trend has continued while the Duke product has begun his preparations for a return to the court in 2022-23. “I feel great now,” Tatum said on Monday when it was his turn to grace the podium.
Tatum gave a little more context on the injury and how it affected him during the 2022 postseason and the weeks that followed.
Jayson Tatum on how Joe Mazzulla can lead the Celtics: “We’re gonna have to help him. And he’s gonna have to help us. We’re all in this together.” https://t.co/OjYEJnYtle
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 26, 2022
“It affected me during the playoffs,” he explained. “But, you play that long in the season and those physical matchups, everybody was dealing with something.”
“I’m a firm believer that if I put my shoes and jersey on, and I go out there, then I’m playing. There are no excuses if you step out on the court. And if you are injured then you shouldn’t play. But everybody that late into the season is dealing with something. So I didn’t want (the injury) to be exaggerated.”
“Something that I was using as a crutch,” Tatum made a point of adding.
How did Jayson Tatum learn about Udoka’s suspension? “On Twitter, like everybody else.” https://t.co/6CTZyC49nU
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 26, 2022
The St. Louis native was asked what about the injury was so challenging, and how debilitating it was. He confirmed it was just a stinger, but it kept being re-aggravated.
“There’s so much contact in basketball, and if somebody hits it or you fall, I was feeling it…You’ve just got to fight through it.”
Tatum’s shoulder sounds fully healed — great news for Celtics fans, and bad news for the rest of the league.
Former Celtics two way wing Matt Ryan signs with the Los Angeles Lakers https://t.co/77hHK5Lpqr
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 26, 2022
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