Kevin Durant Praises Jayson Tatum's Recovery
Kevin Durant expressed admiration for Jayson Tatum's rapid rehabilitation from an Achilles tear following the Rockets' 128-101 victory over the Celtics in Boston. After the game, Durant embraced Tatum, recognizing his remarkable progress.
Durant's Own Achilles Experience
Durant, now 37, remains in top condition six years after rupturing his Achilles in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, scoring a team-high 26 points in the recent game. He noted that he was not as advanced at six months into his own recovery as Tatum is now.
“I wouldn’t say I felt that confident to dunk the ball,” Durant recalled about his healing process after six months. “I don’t remember if I was that far along in my journey, but medicine has advanced so much since I had Achilles. Jayson looks like he’s just killing the rehab and he looks great.”
Encouragement and Outlook
Durant highlighted Tatum’s strong performance in rehab, pointing out the absence of a limp and his readiness despite recent surgery.
“For somebody who just had Achilles surgery in the playoffs, he looks amazing. Hopefully, he continues to progress and gets better and gets back on the court soon. The game misses him, the NBA misses him, just, you know, all world talent, man, so looking forward to having him back on the floor.”
Tatum's Return Timeline
Tatum aims to make a return this season, which would fall within 11 months of his injury. He has been open about this goal during his recovery process.
Summary
Kevin Durant commends Jayson Tatum’s exceptional Achilles rehab progress, reflecting both on advances in medical recovery and Tatum’s impressive resilience and talent.