Jayson Tatum made his season debut for the Boston Celtics on Friday night, returning to the basketball court at TD Garden after undergoing surgery months ago for his ruptured Achilles.
He’d receive the sort of warm welcome one might expect upon his introduction in Boston for the starting lineup as they took on No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks.
And despite some early indications of working himself back to form in an actual NBA game, Tatum actually put on an impressive performance in his first action, hitting three-pointers, dunking the ball, and dishing to teammates.
He nearly messed around and got a triple-double. After the final horn sounded, the Celtics claimed a 120-100 victory thanks to Tatum’s contributions. After 27 minutes, he finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
As Tatum’s season debut was wrapping up on ESPN, he received a message from basketball superstar LeBron James, whose Lakers had a game later on Friday night against the Indiana Pacers.
“WELCOME BACK BIG DEUCE!!!” King James wrote, tagging Tatum on X and including praying hands, a flexing bicep, a saluting face, and fire emojis.
Ahead of the Lakers’ game, LeBron was out of his team’s lineup due to left foot arthritis, as well as a left elbow contusion he suffered in his team’s loss to the Nuggets on Thursday night.
LeBron’s Lakers and the Celtics have already met twice this season, with Boston winning their most recent matchup last month, 111-89 in Los Angeles. They previously played a game in December, which the Celtics also won, 126-105, so the teams won’t meet again this season with Tatum playing, unless they both reach the NBA Finals.
LeBron, now in his 23rd season in the NBA, continues to show respect for the majority of his opponents and fellow superstars. He and Tatum participated together at the 2024 Pairs Summer Olympics, where Team USA won gold.
Tatum’s return is a significant boost for the Celtics, currently trailing the Detroit Pistons for first place in the Eastern Conference. His injury occurred during Boston’s playoff run last season, ending their chances at returning to the Finals.
However, with Tatum back on the court alongside star teammates, including Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, it could create a terrifying situation for the opposition as the NBA Playoffs draw closer.
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