Boston superstar Jayson Tatum ruptures Achilles

• Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum had surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon
• Jayson sent a message of support to father Justin Tatum's Illawarra Hawks before Game 5 of the NBL Grand Final Series
• Jayson Tatum's road to recovery is expected to take at least 12 months

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in closing minutes of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (AEST).

The 28-year-old NBA champion had surgery to repair the tendon today (May 14, 2025). He is out indefinitely with no timetable on his return.

Tatum is the son of NBL25 Championship coach and NBL25 Coach of the Year Justin Tatum.

Coach Tatum revealed in his championship post game press conference that Jayson had sent him a message to share with his team before Game 5 of the NBL25 Grand Final series.

"He sent — this morning I woke up and told my guys — he sent a video," coach Tatum revealed.

"It was really for my team. He said, 'Pop, send this to your group'.

"It was reassurance to my group — what they should feel, how to win a game. It was Game 7 for them, Game 5 for us. He sent a support message. That meant a lot.

"They were like, 'Hey, the whole 2023–24 Boston Celtics are about to watch our game'. And they said, 'If they can do it, we can do it'.

"So hearing from him and him sending that message on his own — that was unbelievable. It meant a lot to my players too."

Tatum was on fire against the Knicks when he went down clutching his right ankle. He had 42 points on 16-for-28 shooting with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter and in a back-and-forth battle at Madison Square Garden. Tatum being carried off took the wind out of the defending champions, falling 121-113 and 3-1 in the series.

Tatum won a gold medal with the US at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris but was controversially left, languishing, on the bench by head coach Steve Kerr.

He's not the first NBA superstar to rupture his Achilles. Kevin Durant, just shy of turning 30, torn his Achilles in Game 5 of the 2018 NBA Finals. It sidelined him for the better part of two seasons. He came back as a 32-year-old and was as elite as ever.

What is an Achilles rupture

An Achilles tendon rupture is a complete or partial tear of the Achilles tendon, the thick band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. This tendon is crucial for walking, running, jumping, and pushing off the foot.

Common Causes

• Sudden acceleration or deceleration (e.g., sprinting, jumping).
• Quick directional changes (common in basketball, soccer, and tennis).
• Falling or tripping unexpectedly.
• Degeneration from overuse or chronic tendonitis.

Symptoms

• A sudden, sharp pain in the back of the ankle or calf, often described as feeling like being "kicked" or "shot."
• A popping or snapping sound at the time of injury.
• Difficulty pushing off the foot or walking normally.
• Swelling and bruising around the ankle.
• Inability to stand on tiptoes on the affected leg.

Diagnosis

• Clinical examination (Thompson Test: squeezing the calf should cause the foot to move — if it doesn’t, a rupture is likely).
• Imaging (Ultrasound or MRI to confirm and assess the extent).

Treatment Options

Non-Surgical (Conservative)

• Immobilisation in a boot with the foot pointed downward (plantarflexion) to bring the tendon ends together.
• Gradual movement to a neutral position over several weeks.
• Typically reserved for partial tears, less active individuals, or those at higher surgical risk.

Surgical Repair

• Tendon ends are stitched back together.
• Often preferred for younger, athletic individuals or complete ruptures.
• Can reduce the risk of re-rupture compared to conservative treatment.

Prognosis

• Full recovery is possible, but the tendon may never regain its original strength.
• Recovery is nine to 12 months
• Re-rupture risk: ~3-5% with surgery; ~8-15% with conservative treatment.
• Some athletes return to pre-injury performance; others experience reduced explosiveness or confidence in the leg.