Celtics' Jayson Tatum reluctantly preparing for 1st trip to New York since Achilles injury
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum knew it would happen eventually. It still won't make his return to Madison Square Garden for Thursday's matchup with the New York Knicks any easier for him. “Nah, not really,” Tatum said Tuesday following Boston's win over Charlotte .
“I mean, yeah, I thought about it. Not, like, thrilled to go back and play there. Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me.
" The experience, of course, was when he was carried off the floor with a ruptured right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Knicks last season. It ended the six-time All-Star's season, and following surgery the next day thrust him into a nearly 10-month rehab. It ended on March 6 with his season debut and a 15-game stretch since then that has him averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds with the playoffs upcoming.
But being back in New York for the first time since his injury still will come with some trepidation, he acknowledged. “Obviously, at some point I knew I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again. So, it's going to have to be this Thursday," Tatum said.
Teammate Jaylen Brown said he thinks Tatum is in a good place. “I think he's trending in the right direction,” Brown said. “Mentally, it could possibly be something.