Jayson Tatum Receives Message From Father On Social Media

Jayson Tatum is in the beginning stages of an arduous rehab after he ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the Boston Celtics Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks. On Father’s Day, he received an inspirational message from none other than his father.

Tatum was in the middle of putting together one of the best playoff games of his career, as he had 42 points against the Knicks before suffering his aforementioned injury. Now, he’s expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 campaign as he works his way back to full health.

The process began almost immediately for Tatum, as he underwent surgery on his Achilles less than 24 hours after he went down with this injury. This was done on purpose, as the recovery timeline can sometimes be expedited when surgery is performed before the swelling develops in the lower leg.

There’s no doubt that the next couple of months are going to be tough for Boston’s superstar forward. So, on Father’s Day, Tatum’s dad, Justin Tatum, sent a heartfelt message to his son on social media that Celtics fans quickly took note of.

“Happy Father’s Day to be my better half,” Justin said in a post on his Instagram story of Jayson with his son Deuce. “Love you and extremely proud of the man (you’re) becoming.”

Justin has become a source of strength for Jayson early in his Achilles injury rehab, and there’s no doubt that the 2024 NBA Finals champion is going to need help from everyone in his inner circle as he attempts to make his way back to the court.

Boston will miss having Tatum as their disposal next season, as he put together another superb campaign last year. In 72 games, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and six assists per game while shooting 45.2% from the field, earning his sixth-straight All-Star selection and fourth straight spot on the All-NBA First Team.

For now, though, the Celtics front office is working on finding a way to rebuild their team to be at their best once Tatum returns. That will certainly be easier said than done, and all eyes will be on Brad Stevens and company to see what moves they make over the coming weeks.