Kofi Inkoom
The Boston Celtics have been busy managing injury updates this offseason, and the latest revelation centers around their star forward, Jayson Tatum.
It appears that Tatum has been grappling with discomfort in his non-shooting wrist, stemming from an injury he sustained during the 2023 postseason.
Tatum’s resilience became evident when he disclosed that he played through a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist for a significant portion of the 2022 NBA Finals.
While the question loomed whether Tatum would address this lingering issue during the offseason, it turns out he opted not to undergo surgery, as revealed by insider Ramona Shelburne.
During a segment on NBA Today, Shelburne shared insights into Tatum’s decision-making process, stating,
“[Tatum] went into the offseason thinking he might need surgery on his non-shooting wrist. [He] went to a bunch of specialists and essentially decided [not to get the surgery].”
“[Jayson Tatum] went into the offseason thinking he might need surgery on his non-shooting wrist. [He] went to a bunch of specialists and essentially decided [not to get the surgery].”
— NBAfan (@Miami_Kofi) September 29, 2023
Instead, the four-time All-Star chose to receive a cortisone shot, indicating that he is now in good condition and ready to hit the court.
However, Tatum isn’t the lone Celtic on the path to recovery. Reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon, has been rehabbing from an elbow injury sustained in last year’s playoffs.
Like Tatum, Brogdon also steered clear of surgery and is expected to be a full participant in the upcoming training camp.
Adding to the mix is the newly acquired center, Kristaps Porzingis. The 2018 All-Star faced a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, resulting in his withdrawal from the entire FIBA World Cup.
Fortunately, reports indicate that he is on track to make his Celtics debut when the season kicks off on October 25th.
Amidst these injury challenges, there is a glimmer of optimism for the Celtics. If the team can sustain their current trajectory of healing and Tatum’s wrist remains trouble-free, they are poised to make significant strides in the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.