Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
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Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
TThe Golden State Warriors lost 120-99 to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden. It was a tough night across the board. Kristaps Porzingis shot 4-of-13, the three-point shooting was poor, and Boston’s stars did what they do. The deficit was in double digits for most of the game.
But after the final buzzer, the conversation shifted to something bigger than the scoreboard.
Jayson Tatum was on the floor Wednesday night for the third straight game of at least 30 minutes since returning from an Achilles injury that kept him out for approximately ten months. He finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Draymond Green had a front-row seat to all of it, and he had plenty to say afterwards.
Warriors’ Green Reacts to Tatum’s Achilles Recovery
Jayson Tatum, Draymond Green
GettyJayson Tatum, Draymond Green.
Green has been around long enough to know what an Achilles injury does to a player. The speed. The burst. The ability to change direction at full pace. Those things do not come back overnight, and sometimes they do not come back at all.
What he saw from Tatum on Wednesday did not look like a player still finding his way back.
“Still moving well, still can get downhill,” Green said. “Handle’s still there. He looks great.”
He did not stop there. The four-time champion was genuinely impressed by what Tatum showed in just his sixth game back from the injury.
“He looks incredible,” Green said. “It’s amazing to see him back out there. I’m happy as hell to see him back out there.”
Despite facing each other in the 2022 NBA Finals, Green and Tatum have built a genuine bond over the years. Tatum attended Green’s wedding that same year, and the respect between the two has only grown since.
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Draymond Green speaks on Jayson Tatum’s return from injury:
“He looks incredible. It’s amazing to see him back out there.” – @CLNSMedia
Porzingis Also Weighs in on Tatum’s Return
Green was not the only Warrior with something to say about Tatum’s recovery. Kristaps Porzingis, who spent two seasons alongside Tatum in Boston before departing in 2025, offered his own assessment, and delivered it with his trademark dry humour.
“He looks good, honestly. His shot was falling already. Looks like he’s not rusty at all,” Porzingis said. “Just looked a little heavy, that’s all. He needs to lose a couple of pounds and he’ll be flying again.”
Wednesday was also Porzingis’ first game back at TD Garden since leaving Boston. The crowd gave him a standing ovation after the first quarter, and the Celtics honoured him with a tribute video. A warm reception in what was otherwise a difficult night for the Warriors.
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Kristaps Porzingis on how Jayson Tatum looked:
“He looks good, honestly. His shot was falling already. Looks like he’s not rusty at all. Just looked a little heavy, that’s all. He needs to lose a couple pounds and he’ll be flying again.” – @CLNSMedia | Q: @RealBobManning
Final Word for Golden State
The Warriors lost by 21. The play-in race is tightening. The injury list has not shortened.
But Draymond Green watched Jayson Tatum move like himself again and could not hide his admiration. That says something. Green does not give out compliments casually.
Tatum is back. And based on what Green saw on Wednesday, he looks like he never left.