Thumbs Up: Jayson Tatum Gives First Update Since Achilles Injury

Celtics star Jayson Tatum is on the road to recovery.

On Monday, Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of Boston’s second-round series with the New York Knicks. On Tuesday, he had surgery to repair the ruptured tendon. On Wednesday, he checked back in with the world.

Tatum delivered an update that was both encouraging and heartbreaking, all the same from his hospital bed. The Celtics swingman posted a photo and a quick message of thanks after going under the knife.

“Thankful for all the love and support,” he said in the caption.

Tatum has a major road to recovery ahead of him. Typically, a torn Achilles takes nine to 12 months to get back to where Tatum needs to be as one of the NBA’s best. Even with that daunting timeline, there’s still no guarantee Tatum can recapture the burst that makes him one of the NBA’s best.

That’s not to say he can’t do it, of course, and there are past success stories he can use as motivation. It also helps that surgery went well and that Tatum’s situation is as good as it can be for someone his age coming back from this devastating injury.