Emotions ran high during a call between Jason Tatum and his father, Justin, on Monday night after Tatum sustained a season-ending Achilles injury.
In a discussion of poignant father-son moments, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears noted that Tatum, 27, expressed confusion and hurt, asking, “Why am I?” This followed a tough playoff loss to the Knicks where the Celtics fell behind late in the game.
According to Justin, their calls were intense, with Tatum often questioning, “Why me, daddy? Why is this happening to me?”
Justin provided comforting words, telling him, “Son, this is God’s will. You’re young, and you’ll get through this.” He also reminded Tatum of his own challenges in life.
Interestingly, Tatum’s injury mirrors that of the late Kobe Bryant, who also tore his Achilles back in 2013.
On Tuesday, the Celtics confirmed that Tatum’s surgery went well, though they did not give a timeline for his recovery.
Justin expressed hope that his son might be out for about 8-9 months. He offered to return home from Asia, but Tatum, reassuring him, replied, “No, dad, stay there, coach,” according to Spears.
Updates on the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Tatum, pursuing his second title with the Celtics, shared a thankful message on social media after his surgery, writing, “Thank you for all your love and support,” alongside a hospital photo.
Despite the injury, he delivered a standout performance, scoring 42 points in the Celtics’ 121-113 loss to the Knicks on Monday.
Heading into Game 5, the Celtics found themselves in a challenging series, but they rallied back with a convincing 127-102 victory at home.
The series will head back to New York for Game 6 on Friday, with the winner set to face the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
