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Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics, & the Fleeting Nature of Success
How one injury might have shifted the landscape of an entire conference for the next couple of seasons
In sports, a team’s fate can change in an instant — it’s a cruel reminder of how fleeting moments of glory truly are. The Boston Celtics a mere month ago seemed to be poised to make another trip to the NBA Finals with a chance to repeat as champions, to become the first repeat champion since 2018 when the Warriors went back-to-back.
But then on a tipped pass by the Knicks’ OG Anunoby, Celtics star Jayson Tatum fell to the ground and writhed in agony. The play happened with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter and the Knicks were on their way to victory. Fans held their collective breaths, hoping that their worst fears wouldn’t be confirmed. But as the pain on Tatum’s told everyone, the Celtic’s star had a torn Achilles.
Tatum underwent surgery the next day, meaning that he will likely miss all next season. And in that instant, the outlook of the entire Celtics franchise has come into question. A team that seemed on the verge of a dynasty is now headed towards uncertainty with a roster consolidation on the horizon. It is yet another reminder that success in the NBA is more fleeting than we think.
