BOSTON – Despite being competitors on the court, Jalen Branson feels that everyone loses with Jason Tatum’s injury.
Tatum recently had surgery for a torn Achilles tendon that he sustained during the Knicks’ Game 4 win over the Celtics on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. This injury could keep him out for all of next season.
“I really feel for him,” Branson said Wednesday morning following the Knicks’ practice before Game 5. “It’s an unfortunate situation for a player of his caliber. The NBA really needs Jason Tatum. What he brings to the game is incredible. Seeing such great players down like this isn’t good for the league.”
Tatum is expected to make his fourth consecutive All-NBA team, possibly his fifth in six years. At 27, he’s right in the thick of his prime years. Known for his durability, he’s averaged 73.1 games per season throughout his eight years in the league.
Things are likely to look quite different by the time he returns.
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Mitchell Robinson can empathize. His career with the Knicks has often been plagued by injuries, leading to significant time away from the game. Over the past two years, he has only been able to play 48 regular-season games. He didn’t even make his season debut until late February this year.
“First and foremost, I want to send my prayers to JT for that injury,” Robinson said Wednesday. “I know how tough it can be. It’s a horrible feeling, but you have to keep pushing through.
“There are a lot of ups and downs, and when you’re injured or can’t perform, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You have to focus on getting through the tough moments.”
