Jayson Tatum's influence on the Boston Celtics goes beyond the hardwood, and new additions to the roster are already feeling it.
Rookie forward Hugo Gonzalez, who sits next to Tatum on team flights, recently spoke about the veteran leader's impact. Gonzalez credited Tatum with setting the tone for the entire group during his recovery.
“He’s been an example for everybody here,” Gonzalez told CLNS Media's Noa Dalzell while also revealing that he's able to talk with Tatum about a number of things.
Hugo Gonzalez said he sits next to Jayson Tatum on the team plane and that he’s been able to talk to him about a lot of different things:
“He’s been an example for everybody here.” pic.twitter.com/qM05KPIVy1
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 5, 2026
It's high praise for a player who's missed the entire 2025-26 season so far after tearing his right Achilles in last year's playoffs. Yet, Tatum has remained a constant around the team, from practices to road trips, embodying the Celtics' culture of accountability and excellence.
Boston has thrived in Tatum's absence thanks to contributions from Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a deep bench, which includes surprising value from the rookie Gonzalez.
The Celtics have benefited during the Tatum and Brown era from having two superstars who are both durable and good leaders. Tatum's leadership during his time away from the court, which has also been noted by White in recent days, shows that his mental strength and basketball IQ never pressed the off switch during his entire rehab.
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