It’s been almost six weeks since Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon, and to those around him, his spirits seem high.
That’s what Celtics free agent Torrey Craig — who has spent lots of time at the Auerbach Center in recent weeks — said in an appearance on CLNS Media’s Garden Report.
“He’s getting his routine down,” Craig said. “He’s always in with his trainer doing his rehab. I think it’ll get easier as time goes on, but it’s always tough seeing somebody like that go down, especially a person like JT.”
Tatum posted a photo of himself at the facility earlier this month, and Craig shared a video of the Celtics star laughing and getting treatment last week.
Craig has routinely worked out at the Auerbach Center alongside his son, Braylon, and some of the younger players on the roster — Baylor Scheierman, Miles Norris, Drew Peterson — as well as more veteran players like Payton Pritchard and Al Horford.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — both recovering from offseason surgery — have regularly been in the building getting treatment. Craig said it’s been great to see Tatum active on social media and getting back to himself.
“[It’s good] to see him smiling and laughing and joking around and just having a normal conversation, talking about the offseason and what I’m up to,” Craig said. “I just look forward to his recovery, the progress he’s making, and it’s always just good seeing him in good spirits.”
”He loves the game so much and basketball means so much to him. He puts so much hard work into it, and dedication and sacrifice, and all of the above. For something like this to happen at that moment, in the playoffs, it’s just gut-blowing.”
So, as a frequent Auerbach Center offseason visitor, he’s making a concerted effort to keep Tatum’s spirits high.
“I always try to lighten the mood up around him, not be too serious, make jokes to see him laugh, see him smile,” Craig said.
Torrey Craig gushed about having Tatum as a teammate
Craig, a 34-year-old veteran, has played for six NBA teams and shared the floor with a slew of All-Stars, including former MVPs like Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic.
What struck Craig most about playing with Tatum this past season was his humility — whether he went off for 50 points or had a quiet night, Tatum was always exactly the same.
“He’s probably the most — out of all the teammates I’ve had — he’s probably the most humble of them all,” Craig said. “I think he’s too humble, actually. To be as great as he is, and to be as humble as he is, and just a kind person, I think people kind of take that for granted sometimes.”
Tatum has a long road ahead in his recovery; medical experts expect him to miss anywhere from 7 to 15 months as he returns from one of the most serious injuries a basketball player can face.
In the meantime, those around him are grateful to have had the opportunity to share the court with him.
“He’s a great teammate,” Craig said. “I think that starts with him just being a great person, a great human overall.”
