Celtics champ Tatum inspiring Froling comeback

• Illawarra Hawks big man Sam Froling suffered a torn achilles in Game 4 of the 2025 NBL championship series
• Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, the son of Hawks coach Justin Tatum, suffered the same injury in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
• Froling could make a return to the Hawks roster in January, 2026

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum and Illawarra Hawks big man Sam Froling are inspiring each other’s comebacks from Achilles injuries, reports Matt Logue from CODE Sports Basketball.

Hawks coach Justin Tatum revealed recovery videos are being shared between his son Jayson and Sam and it’s motivating both players in their bids to return ahead of schedule.

“Jayson is a big fan of Sam because I send him videos of each other going back and forth in recovery,” Justin Tatum told Code Sports.

“They are probably a month off in their recoveries. I send motivational films of Jayson and Sam’s progress to each player. Jayson now asks about Sam and vice versa. They haven’t met each other, but they are experiencing similar injuries and I’m the mutual person in between.

“It’s good to see two guys are really pushing each other as professionals to get back to doing what they love to do.”

Tatum is hoping to return for the Celtics in the New Year while Froling is also tracking for a potential January comeback, which doesn’t surprise his younger brother Harry.

“I’ve said it from the day he got injured, Sam is a monster, he works his tail off,” Harry said.

“He is a work horse and I never had any doubt and that is why I had a laugh when there were doubts.”

For the full story on CODE Sports Basketball, click here.