Jayson Tatum had a banner year in 2024, leading the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, earning All-NBA First Team honors, signing a record-breaking contract extension, and winning a gold medal at the Olympics.
While Tatum was part of Team USA's successful campaign for a fifth consecutive gold medal in men's basketball, the six-time All-Star finished near last in total minutes played. Head coach Steve Kerr prioritized the likes of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant in the lineup.
In a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Tatum expressed frustration with his lack of Olympic playing time.
"I couldn't process it. I couldn't understand. Being First Team All-NBA, it's me and the four other guys who were Europeans. I was the only American. Then, you get to the Olympics, and I didn't play in two of the games. It was hard to process, and that was the toughest part."
Tatum finished with 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 17.8 minutes per game. Notably, he did not play during Team USA's climactic 95-91 semifinals match against Serbia.
Fast forward to the present day, the Celtics hold the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The 29-18 record may come as a surprise, as Tatum has been sidelined due to an Achilles injury since last May.
While there is no firm timeline, recent reports suggest that the 27-year-old could make his season debut within the next few months. Other NBA stars recovering from an Achilles injury, such as Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, are not expected to play until the 2026-2027 season.
Holding the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings, Kerr is managing various situations with the Golden State Warriors. Between a season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler and reported trade demands from Jonathan Kuminga, the upcoming February deadline may be action-packed for the franchise.
Overall, Tatum is likely to return to a favorable situation once he is cleared to return to the court. The Celtics are currently six wins away from securing the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Newsweek