Jayson Tatum Got A Valuable Piece Of Advice From Klay Thompson. Here's What Cap Had To Say
Apr 3, 2026
Jayson Tatum’s comeback has been nothing short of successful. Since returning last month following an arduous recovery from a torn Achilles, Tatum has gradually gotten his groove back and expanded his game as both a scorer and a playmaker.
The six-time All-Star is fortunate to have a robust support system, and that includes peers who have been through a similar ordeal. After the Boston Celtics’ 147-129 rout of the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Tatum told reporters about a valuable piece of advice imparted by Klay Thompson, who suffered an ACL tear and an Achilles injury earlier this decade.
“Klay told me this after we played them the first time…One thing he wished he did more, when he first came back was just give himself more grace,” Tatum recalled. “He was like, ‘There's not too many people [who] understand what this injury is like, and coming back and the ups and downs, physically and mentally that you deal with.’”
When Tatum was asked if he applies Thompson’s advice, he admitted, “I try. I still get frustrated.”
It’s not hard to see why Tatum isn’t satisfied with his performance, despite fans and analysts celebrating his return. His scoring average of 21.3 points per game is his worst in six years, and his field goal percentage of 40.2% is the lowest of his career. In terms of mobility and reliability on defense, Tatum isn’t quite at peak form, something that opponents might choose to exploit come playoff time.
Even if Tatum is a less-than-optimal version of himself, his availability is a welcome sight for the Celtics, who have entered the conversation of title contenders this summer. With his running mate Jaylen Brown ascending into the status of MVP contender and other key pieces (like Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and newly acquired Celtic Nikola Vucevic) playing well, the Celtics are looking more and more like the squad that will outlast the rest of the East.
Less than two years ago, Tatum and Brown were celebrating their first-ever NBA title. Nearly a year ago, Tatum was sprawled on the floor of Madison Square Garden after tearing his Achilles.
Then, on March 6, 2026, Tatum successfully came back from his devastating injury. Now, he wants to return to the grand stage of the NBA Finals.
