It’s just been over four months since everyone witnessed Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum lying down on the hardwood of Madison Square Garden after suffering a devastating Achilles injury which made him flash his entire career before his eyes. Since then, he has undergone a massive surgery, which made many believe that it would be a while before we see the 27-year-old back in action, not just on the floor but even in the gym. However, that’s not the case.

On Saturday night, Jayson Tatum posted a clip of himself that caught everyone off guard. In the video, the 27-year-old forward is seen running up and down the court and even shooting some buckets just a few months after tearing his Achilles tendon, which isn’t something you’d expect just a few months after he underwent such an extensive procedure. So, as expected, the majority of the people were stunned to see the former NBA champion back in action, including Kevin Durant.

Yes, you heard that right. The Slim Reaper himself was left in awe after seeing his Team USA teammate back on the hardwood, just months after several reports suggested that he wouldn’t be returning for almost the entirety of the upcoming campaign. So, Kevin Durant took to X to extend his support to his Team USA teammate. “Insane. Let’s get it JT,” KD wrote. The veteran Houston Rockets star expressed his excitement about seeing Tatum back on the court and motivated him to make a strong comeback.

While it’s great to see the soon-to-be Hall of Famer motivating Tatum, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that both forwards share a great bond. Durant and JT go way back, as they’ve shared multiple such moments over the years. In fact, the 37-year-old has been one of the few people who acknowledged the fact that the Boston Celtics superstar was “MVP-Caliber.” Not just that, Jayson Tatum also considers the two-time NBA champion his brother. So, you could understand why Kevin Durant is so hyped up to see JT back in action.

Durant, who suffered his own Achilles rupture in 2019, understands the challenges of the recovery process. He knows exactly what it takes to return to one’s former levels after taking such a knock, and has often come out in support of other players who have suffered similarly serious injuries. What’s more, Durant is also knows how to do it when the spotlight is entirely on him, and a franchise is looking at the player as a centerpiece in a potential title run.

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He made a highly anticipated return with the Brooklyn Nets in December 2020 and was immediately able to play at an elite level. He even averaged 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 12 playoff games that season. That is also the truth of Tatum’s career at the Boston Celtics, and Durant might be uniquely placed to know exactly what might be on the Boston superstar’s mind. Nonetheless, even though everyone is happy to see Jayson back on the floor, the next few months will be crucial for his recovery. That’s because coming back from an Achilles injury isn’t a walk in the park, as such injuries have derailed many careers.

But by the looks of it, Tatum has been taking advice from the right man; if there’s anyone who knows how to make a comeback from an Achilles injury, it’s Kevin Durant. Meanwhile, Tatum has expressed his gratitude to everyone who has helped him during this dark phase.

Jayson Tatum appreciates the love and support as he continues rehabilitation

Just a few months ago, no one would’ve imagined that Jayson Tatum would be playing basketball before the season even tipped off. While there’s still a lot of work to be done by the 27-year-old and his team, there’s no doubt that he has taken a massive step toward making a full recovery. And it couldn’t have been possible without the love and support of the fans. So, it’s only obvious that the superstar acknowledged that in his recent clip.

“It’s been a long journey,” Tatum said. “Nineteen-and-a-half weeks (have passed since the injury), but I always say brighter days ahead. A lot of things to look forward to. Just finished my third workout, so I’m finally back on the court. I just want everybody to know, man, I appreciate the love and support. It’s been a long journey, but I’m working my tail off to get back, to get healthy, for the love of the game obviously, and then for the fans that support me and the team. So, I appreciate the support.”

This statement by the six-time All-Star goes to show how difficult these past few months have been for him and that if it weren’t for the massive support and love he got from the NBA community, he wouldn’t have made such a swift comeback. It’s really fantastic to see Tatum finally being himself, especially after he revealed everything that went through his head when he first sustained the injury during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks.