Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs couldn't pull off the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
Mahomes, growing up in Tyler, TX, and playing college football for Texas Tech, has made it known that his favorite NBA team is the Dallas Mavericks.
Like Kansas City's finish to the season, the Mavericks had some misfortune in the final stretch of the 2024-25 NBA season. After trading away Luka Doncic, Dallas lost Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving to long-term injuries, failing to get past the play-in tournament.
But Mahomes has still kept his eye on the NBA Playoffs, watching Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics take on Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the second round on Monday.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Trailing 1-2 in the series, the Celtics were in desperate need of a win to even the series up, going back to Boston for Game 5. However, after giving up yet another double-digit lead to the Knicks, Boston fans' worst fear may have come true.
With just under three minutes to play, Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown lost the ball. As Tatum attempted to recover it, he tweaked his ankle and went down immediately, writhing in pain.
Tatum was forced to leave the game, unable to put pressure on his ankle, and many are assuming he tore his Achilles. This would likely leave him out for the rest of the postseason and all of next season.
Mahomes, who dealt with a less serious ankle injury (sprain) during the 2024 NFL season, immediately took to social media, asking for prayers for Tatum.
"Prayers up man….. ðð½ðð½ðð½," Mahomes wrote on X.
Despite the unfortunate events for the Celtics, Mahomes certainly had a different level of emotion before Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. The Mavericks, even with just a 1.8% chance, won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery. They will likely use the pick to take Duke's All-American forward Cooper Flagg.
"OMGGGGG!! Let’s goo!!!!!" Mahomes wrote after the lottery results.
If Tatum did in fact tear his Achilles, the Celtics, coming off a championship win in 2024, may be in serious trouble going into next season.