Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
The Celtics, who are down 3-1 to the Knicks, announced on Tuesday that Tatum has already undergone surgery on his Achilles.
Some were surprised to see Tatum undergo surgery so quickly after tearing his Achilles. According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, there is a reason Tatum had the surgery right away.
"According to a league source, the injury was confirmed when Jayson Tatum underwent testing Tuesday morning and the decision was made to operate immediately because swift action following Achilles’ injuries tends to lead to more favorable outcomes," Himmelsbach wrote.
"The source added that complications during these procedures are common, so the Celtics were encouraged when Tatum emerged from surgery with no further issues."
Tatum averaged 28.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.8 blocks in the 2025 playoffs versus the Orlando Magic and Knicks.
Boston is down 3-1 to New York.
A six-time All-Star, Tatum helped the Celtics win the championship last year against the Dallas Mavericks in five games. The small forward has career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0).
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0).
© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
The Celtics signed Tatum to a five-year, $314 million extension last summer. Tatum will make $54.1 million next season, $58.5 million in 2026-27, $62.8 million in 2027-28 and $67.1 million in 2028-29.
A Duke product, Tatum has a player option worth $71.4 million for the 2029-30 season.
Boston selected Tatum with the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The talented scorer has made four All-NBA teams.