Jayson Tatum’s Shocking Injury: Will the Celtics’ Star Miss the Playoffs?

Jayson Tatum's injury strikes like a punch to the gut.

I was at the TD Garden on May 12, 2025, and I have never heard it so silent. Jayson Tatum—our guy, the Celtics' heart—was tearing it up against the Knicks in game four. The dude was on fire, scoring 42 points, grabbing rebounds, locking down on defense, and doing everything to keep us in the series. Then, in a short second, everything fell apart.

He was chasing a loose ball, like he often does, full speed. Nobody touched him. Unfortunately, his right leg gave out. He landed hard on the floor, grasping his lower leg and twisting his face in an unsettling manner. The entire arena froze. Fans stopped cheering. My buddy next to me simply murmured, "No way, not JT." Trainers rushed over, and as they helped him up, he couldn't put any weight on it. They dragged him away, and we subsequently saw him in a wheelchair, appearing to be in tears. That image has become ingrained in my memory.

The Celtics lost 121-113, and now we're down 3-1. But really? The score was not what made us shake. It was the prospect of losing Tatum.

Waiting for answers and dreading the worst.

The next day, Coach Mazzulla provided the bare minimum: Tatum underwent an MRI for what they are calling a "lower leg injury." That is it. There are no details or timelines, just a lot of nothing. My phone has been flooded with group chats and X posts—everyone has a theory. Some believe it could be his Achilles, which would be a nightmare. Like, season done, maybe even next season. Others hope it's only a poor sprain that he'll be able to recover from in a few weeks. It's difficult to remain optimistic given how he fell and his inability to walk.

I keep scrolling X, hoping for updates, but it's just fans like me freaking out, with a few so-called "experts" speculating. According to one post by @DrJesseMorse, it could be an Achilles injury based on the appearance. I'm not sure if I believe it, but it has caused me trouble. All we can do is wait for the team to speak up, and the silence is killing us.

For Celtics supporters, this is more than just basketball. Tatum is one of us. He's the youngster who grew up idolizing Kobe, was selected at 19, and brought us Banner 18 last season. Seeing him in anguish, possibly facing the most serious setback of his career, feels personal. As if a family member had been wounded.

What Will We Do Without Him?

If Tatum is out for a while, we're in big trouble. Don't get me wrong: Jaylen Brown is a beast, and Derrick White and Al Horford are always there. But JT? He's the guy who makes the big shots, stares down the opposing squad, and says, "Not tonight." Game 5 in New York will be difficult without him. The Knicks scent blood, and Jalen Brunson is playing as if he has something to prove.

Still, if there's one thing I've learned as a Celtics fan, it's that we never give up. Remember when Larry Bird played with a broken back? Or when Pierce was wheeled out in 2008, only to return and ball out? This team has that DNA. And Tatum has that fire. If anyone can go through treatment and come out stronger, it's him. I can just see him posterizing some hapless Knicks defender next season, just to remind everyone who he is.

But for now, we're in limbo, refreshing our feeds and hoping for positive news. Boston is holding its breath, and it appears that the entire city is rallying around JT.

Continue fighting, Jayson. We're all in your corner.