Jayson Tatum Says He’s Physically Ready to Lead the Celtics

His recovery positions him to be the franchise’s primary on-court leader for a reshaped Boston roster.

Overview

Tatum, who spoke at Celtics media day Monday, said he feels great 16½ months after Achilles surgery and credited a full offseason of rehab for added strength and explosiveness.
He used the extra time to focus on body work and explosiveness, saying the offseason allowed him to build the calf and overall conditioning that hampered him last year.
Tatum returned in March from the Achilles tear and averaged about 21.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 16 of the team’s final 19 regular-season games but missed Game 7 of the first-round series with left knee stiffness.
Boston traded Jaylen Brown this offseason and added veterans including Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr., leaving Tatum as the undisputed focal leader on a retooled roster.
He described the rehab as a mental turning point that taught resilience and gave him a new perspective on the game, and the key near-term questions are whether he can sustain efficiency and stay healthy over a full season.