Jason Tatum is starting his recovery journey.
The Celtics star took to social media on Wednesday for the first time since he tore his right Achilles tendon during Monday’s Game 4 loss to the Knicks.
“Thank you for all your love and support,” Tatum shared in an Instagram post featuring a photo of him in a hospital bed, accompanied by some prayer emojis.
Tatum underwent surgery on Tuesday and faces the possibility of missing the entire next season.
The Celtics expressed their support with a message on X after he broke his silence.
“The comeback is bigger than the setback,” the team wrote, sharing screenshots of Tatum’s Instagram post.
The injury happened late in the fourth quarter while chasing a loose ball in the Knicks’ 121-113 victory, causing Tatum to fall and immediately clutch his right leg in pain.
Before his injury, Tatum was having an outstanding playoff game, scoring 42 points with an impressive shooting record, along with eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks.
This setback for Tatum, who is a likely candidate for the First Team All-NBA this season, is a significant blow to the Celtics’ hopes of claiming a back-to-back NBA championship—a feat last achieved by the Warriors in 2017-18.
To advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, the team will need to secure three consecutive victories, starting with Game 5 on Wednesday night in Boston.
