The NBA community quickly reacted to a problematic injury sustained by Jason Tatum during the Knicks’ Game 4 win over the Celtics on Monday night.
Described by Celtics head coach Joe Matzla as a “lower body injury,” Tatum was visibly in distress after trying to secure a loose ball, leading to a painful fall on the court at Madison Square Garden.
He seemed to struggle, eventually requiring assistance and being taken away in a wheelchair.
At one point, the ESPN broadcast showed Tatum holding his face in agony as he was moved to the locker room area.
Following his injury, many players commented on social media, expressing their concern for Tatum.
Hornets forward Grant Williams posted, “Prayer of 0!” with prayer emojis, emphasizing the troubling number of injuries this season.
Isaiah Thomas shared his support with a prayer emoji alongside Tatum’s name.
LeBron James also posted a prayer emoji, referring to Tatum as “Big Deuce.”
Tatum’s teammates displayed their apprehension as well, with Jaylen Brown struggling to articulate his feelings about the incident.
“It’s tough,” he stated. “There’s not much to say.”
Al Horford remarked on the loss, stressing that his main concern was for Jason’s well-being, saying, “What I’m worried about is Jason. Just make sure I’m there for him and that’s my priority.”
Former Celtics center Enes Freedom also sent his prayers to Tatum via social media.
Messages of support reached beyond just the NBA, with former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman posting, “This is rough. I’m thinking about you.” NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes responded with, “A man’s prayer.”
