Among those deeply affected by Jayson Tatum’s injury is Justin Tatum, his father, who reportedly offered to leave his job overseas to be closer to his son and help him through the difficult mental and emotional challenges following his injury.

According to reports, including ESPN's Marc Spears, Justin Tatum was profoundly shaken by the news of his son’s injury. After Jayson underwent surgery to repair the ruptured tendon, he called his father and emotionally asked, “Why me? Why does this have to happen to me?”

Justin reminded his son of Kobe Bryant’s successful comeback from the same injury, offering a source of hope during a challenging time.

Jayson Tatum’s father offered to leave his job

Reports reveal that Justin Tatum, who has been working abroad in Asia, offered to leave his job so he could be physically present with Jayson during his recovery. His primary concern is not just the physical rehabilitation but also Jayson’s mental health.

Jayson Tatum faces an expected nine to 12 months of recovery, meaning he could potentially return to the court sometime around early 2026. While the Celtics have not set an official timetable for his return, the organization and family seem to remain optimistic about a full recovery.

Tatum’s father noted that this is the first major injury Jayson has faced, and while he is confident in his son’s physical ability to bounce back, the mental aspect remains a key focus. 

The bigger picture

The Boston Celtics now face a daunting challenge without Jayson Tatum, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and will miss the remainder of the playoffs and likely much of the 2025-26 season.

Despite this setback, the Celtics have shown resilience, pulling together in Game 5 to keep their season alive behind strong performances from veterans like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Boston has a solid track record without Tatum this season, going 9-2 overall and 3-2 against playoff teams when he has not played.

Jayson Tatum has been the cornerstone of the Celtics since being drafted in 2017. Over eight seasons, he has appeared in 585 regular-season games and 121 playoff games, helping Boston reach the playoffs every year of his career.

He was instrumental in leading the Celtics to the 2024 NBA Championship, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier scorers and leaders. Tatum’s consistent availability and high-level production make his injury a significant blow for the near-term outlook.