Close Friend’s Tough Conversation With Jayson Tatum Revealed as Discharge From Hospital Ends in Disappointment

Boston was stunned. Celtics fans everywhere just felt that silence. Game 6 at the Garden? It was a total nightmare. The New York Knicks absolutely dismantled the Celtics, 119-81. And just like that, a season that had “championship or bust” written all over it was done. For Jayson Tatum? Man, having to watch that beatdown, completely helpless after that brutal Achilles tear in Game 4? That’s a kind of pain most of us can’t even begin to imagine.

Talk about a kick in the teeth: Jayson Tatum got the green light to leave the hospital after his Achilles surgery, probably hoping to give his guys some kind of lift, and what happened? He had to watch their season go down in flames. Just brutal. Now, the word is starting to spread about some real, honest-to-God tough talks he’s been having with his closest guys on the team, giving us a window into what JT is really holding up.

This whole Celtics playoff dream just turned into one of those sad “what could’ve been” barstool debates, didn’t it? It all changed in a split second. Game 4, late, a nothing play–JT pushes off, something he’s done a thousand times, and then bam. Down he goes. The official news later revealed that he had ruptured the right Achilles. Just brutal. Season over. And forget just missing these playoffs; we’re talking a monster 10-12 month recovery staring him in the face.

Coach Joe Mazzulla reportedly said that Tatum “seemed to be doing as well as he can be under the circumstances,” but also made it clear JT is “hurting more than he’d ever allow people to see.” That’s the real talk. Mazzulla also stressed Tatum’s support: “But we know that he wants us to win more than anything.”

That brings us to Derrick White, one of JT’s closest guys. After the Game 6 heartbreak, White didn’t hold back about how tough this is for Tatum. “Yeah… um, obviously it’s tough,” White said, his voice heavy with emotion. “A guy that loves basketball as much as he does — and I don’t know — it probably is the worst injury he’s ever had.” That hits hard—it really shows how devastating this is for Tatum, not just as a player, but as a person who lives and breathes basketball.

White then shared a bit about Tatum’s resolve: “And so, just trying to encourage him. He’s starting a long journey, and he’s going to do everything he can to get back out there and play.” You can feel the brotherhood when White says, “I mean, to live through it, to see it… It’s tough.”

This is way more than just PR spin. You can tell it’s a friend hurting right there with his buddy. Even NBA legend Reggie Miller, who’s been texting with Tatum, said the Celtics star was “devastated” but also fiercely “determined,” vowing that “this injury will not define me.” That’s the JT Celtics fans know—all fire and fight. But getting out of the hospital is just step one in a long, painful marathon, and watching the Knicks celebrate while the Celtics head into a summer full of questions? That just makes it all the tougher.

From game 5 hope to game 6 horror – what collapsed for the Tatum-less Celtics?

So, what on earth happened? After that incredible Game 5 win, where the Tatum-less Celtics looked like a team possessed, they walked into MSG for Game 6 and just… cratered. It wasn’t just “no Tatum, no chance,” because they proved in Game 5 that Derrick White could go nuclear, Jaylen Brown could make plays, and even Luke Kornet could look like a DPOY candidate. They had the heart.

But Game 6? A completely different story. The Celtics looked lost, like that emotional well just ran dry after the high of Game 5 and the gut punch of Tatum’s surgery news. It felt like all their fight got left back in Boston, and the Garden was just too much. Offensively, it was a train wreck. Brown tried, bless his heart, but one guy can’t carry a team when everyone else is shooting bricks—the rest of the team reportedly shot a miserable 35%. You just can’t win like that on the road in an elimination game.

The Knicks? They were sharks smelling blood, feeding off that insane MSG crowd. Every Celtics shot was contested, and every pass felt like a turnover waiting to happen. That crisp ball movement from Game 5? Gone. Playing in the Garden when the Knicks can close out a series is a different kind of pressure, and Boston just couldn’t match New York’s fire for 48 minutes. The Knicks’ defense was literally suffocating the Celtics—all five starters in double figures, Brunson being Brunson, KAT dominating, and Josh Hart notching a historic triple-double. The Celtics just had no answers.

Feb 23, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) drives to the basket while Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) defends during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Losing Tatum’s scoring was a massive blow, obviously. But it was more than that. They missed his presence, his gravity on the court, his leadership when things got tight. Brown gave it his all, but fouling out in the third was the nail in the coffin for any comeback hopes.

Those role players who were heroes in Game 5 couldn’t find that magic again under the bright lights and intense pressure of MSG. Game 5 felt like a dream, but Game 6 was a brutal reality check. The emotional hangover, a possessed Knicks team, and a deafening Garden crowd were just too much. It’s a disastrous way for the defending champs to go out, leaving Boston with a long, tough offseason and a whole lot of “what ifs” about Tatum’s return.

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