Latest Update on the State of Jayson Tatum's Severe Injury

Jayson Tatum underwent successful surgery on Tuesday afternoon to repair a right Achilles tendon tear, an injury he suffered in the final minutes of the fourth game of the series between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. The team confirmed the operation through a statement, although no estimated timeframe for his return to the court was provided.

The injury occurred three minutes before the end of the game when Tatum was delivering one of the best performances of his playoff career: 42 points with 16 made shots out of 28 attempts. The forward fell to the ground with visible signs of pain and was unable to get back up on his own. He had to be assisted off the court, unable to put weight on his foot.

The seriousness of the situation shifted the post-game locker room focus exclusively to Tatum's health. "Right now, what concerns me is Jayson," stated Al Horford. "That's the most important thing for me. We'll address the game later. I just hope he's okay."

Since joining the NBA in 2017, Tatum has been one of the league's most consistent and successful players. He is on the verge of being selected for the All-NBA First Team for the fourth consecutive time, an achievement reserved for only 43 players in history. At 27, he has also matched legends like Larry Bird and John Havlicek by reaching five games with at least 40 points in the postseason, the highest number in Celtics history.

Tatum's impact goes beyond his stats. He led in points, rebounds, and assists during the last season, which ended with the franchise's 18th title, and has played more games than any other player since being drafted. He has also won gold with the U.S. team at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and only LeBron James has scored more points than him in the playoffs before turning 28.

However, his immediate future is now uncertain. Not only will he miss the remainder of the playoffs, but his availability for the next season is also in doubt. His case adds to a long list of NBA figures who have faced Achilles tendon injuries: Kevin Durant returned two years after getting injured at 30; DeMarcus Cousins returned after a year; and Kobe Bryant, at 35, managed to come back after a year off.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Última hora sobre el estado de la gravísima lesión de Jayson Tatum