How Jayson Tatum Became Extra Celtics Coach 7 Months After Achilles Surgery

Luka Garza only knew Jayson Tatum through a mutual friend named Tyler Cook, who played with Tatum in St. Louis and Garza at Iowa. Garza emerged as arguably the best player in college basketball while Tatum affirmed his status as the top draft prospect in his lone season at Duke. But the two never directly crossed paths until Garza arrived at the Celtics’ practice facility to find Tatum rehabbing from a torn Achilles.

Normally, Tatum and Jaylen Brown would be playing internationally, traveling the world or unwinding away from the city. But rehab processes, Brown undergoing a procedure on his partially torn meniscus, kept both in Boston for much of the summer.

That gave the newly arriving Celtics two of the best players in the league to learn from and ask questions with. When Hugo González and the other rookies visited the facility following the draft, Tatum shook their hands sporting a boot. They didn’t know then that Tatum would stick around into the season, sitting on the bench during most games and traveling to almost every road trip.

“He’s been super active. He’s been around. It’s been dope to see,” Brown said. “He’s been engaged. He’s been on a majority of every flight. He’s been in every film session, so that level of dedication. You can tell he’s eager to get back. A lot of guys that know they got an extended amount of time (out), they’re gonna separate themselves mentally for a little bit or whatever. He’s been there. He’s been like an extra coach almost in a sense, so it’s been kind of cool to see.”

Garza earned the backup center role early this season, in part, by honing an excellent screening ability. He spent as much time as possible in the facility during the offseason to quiz teammates on where they wanted screens and the kind that the Celtics required him to set in different situations.

When Garza exited the court during an early home game after playing for a stint, Tatum approached him and corrected his technique. Tatum provided those tips, notes on opponent tendencies, encouragement and light-hearted moments throughout the first quarter of the season.

“There was a screening situation where I kind of went in set, when I probably should’ve slipped out or gotten into the pocket quicker, because they were in a more aggressive coverage,” Garza told CLNS Media last week in Washington. “It was either a switch or a blitz, or something like that. He definitely made the point of getting in the pocket, because that’s obviously something he deals with a lot is getting blitzed.”

“He’s definitely something I want to learn from, but I think on the court, he’s been more vocal just coming up to guys and giving tips or pointers on something small he sees, or whatever. It might be small for him to see it, but for us to hear it, it’s big.”

Garza didn’t seek out Tatum’s advice directly — like others who have known and played with Tatum for years have — but most Celtics players polled mentioned his eye for the game and the details he captures as valuable. González acknowledged that Tatum knows basketball and can spot them better than any of they can in real time, given his view from the bench.

The anecdotal moments showed when he laughed after whispering to Derrick White outside the timeout huddles, or when he grabbed a teammate and offered passing advice. He shared at least one extended conversation with Brown standing court side during a stoppage.

Others happened behind the scenes, speaking up in film or while traveling on the road. While Brown sat next to budding Celtics starter Jordan Walsh on a flight and dreamt up a rotation role for him defending the opposing team’s best player, Tatum later urged the 21-year-old to play more aggressively on offense once he began receiving minutes. Xavier Tillman Sr. recalled Tatum wanting to create more killers on the team, Walsh among them.

“A lot of (his advice) is in the moment stuff like take ‘good shots. Look to be aggressive,'” Walsh told CLNS. “He feels like some of the time, I’m not even looking at the rim to try to go and attack. I’m just looking for the next pass. So he’s been in my ear to tell me to be aggressive, look at the rim, take the shots, take the opportunity, because you can take it and then you can succeed in it, and then now it becomes something that you can do regularly.” 

Tatum reaches the seven month mark in his Achilles surgery recovery on Saturday, potentially placing him several months from clearance for more full practice work before a possible return based on recent timelines by other players. Kevin Durant, perhaps the best example of an NBA Achilles comeback, took 18 months to play in a game after he tore his, but considered it possible Tatum can play this year due in part to medical advances in a conversation he had with CLNS Media earlier this season.

Joe Mazzulla continued to consider the decision over whether Tatum will play this year or not as Tatum’s alongside his training and medical team. Tatum, meanwhile, posted more highlights of his one-on-one work with Celtics coaches alongside a photo with his trainer Nick Sang captained ‘soon.’ Boston has declined to place a timeline on Tatum’s return.

“Obviously, his ability to lead on the court has been taken away,” Mazzulla said. “He’s done a great job leading off the court, one, with the work ethic of his recovery, but at the same time, the individual relationships that he’s building, being on the bench, having those communications, whether it’s in practice or in-game, that’s been invaluable to the locker room and just another way of his ability to lead.”

They also haven’t closed the door on one, unlike Portland with Damian Lillard, who fell injured before Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles roughly one month after Tatum. Haliburton expects to advance to the captivating on-court work that’s generated hope among fans shortly, while Dejounte Murray, who suffered his tear in late January, hasn’t received clearance publicly over 10 months removed from his surgery.

While there’s a sense in New Orleans that the team’s 4-22 record could allow him to slow play his comeback, Tatum has vowed to only come back when he’s 100% back. Payton Pritchard expects Tatum to re-join the team’s lineup seamlessly.

“He’s staying mentally, physically and emotionally prepared,” Sam Hauser said. “He’s working his tail off every day as you can see, and his presence is still felt even though he’s not out there with us and we appreciate him giving his time to us still even though he hasn’t been able to compete with us on the floor, but hopefully at some point this season (he’ll return). If not, no big deal.” 

When the Celtics brought back Ron Harper Jr. on a training camp contract this fall, he already knew Tatum from competing alongside him with Boston last preseason. The Celtics awarded him with a two-way contract for his efforts this time, granting him a more secure, permanent role with the Maine Celtics. Before he traveled north for the start of the G-League season, he asked Tatum as many questions as possible about leading a team on and off the floor.

Maine expected Harper to run their offense, and he averaged 26.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 49.3% shooting (39.8% 3PT) through eight games. He and other young players consider listening to Tatum, one of the greatest Celtics ever in Harper’s eyes, an easy call.

It’s no different for the returning cast who’s played alongside and won a championship with Tatum. Pritchard will regularly approach Tatum to ask him about what he sees. Derrick White, who struggled immensely to begin the season, considered his close friend’s presence invaluable as he tried to fight against beating himself up for his struggles. Their sideline hangouts became one of the more consistent visuals visible during game breaks.

“He’s just annoying me,” White said earlier this season.

“Nah, he’s obviously a great basketball mind, and so he’s just there supporting us, telling us what he sees, encouraging us. Just a bunch of little things throughout the game, it’s always great to have someone like that where you can bounce ideas off and see what he sees.”

“Obviously we want him out there helping us but he’s always just supporting, always positive and has always believed in me. Stuff like that is always encouraging. When people believe in you, you start to believe in yourself.”