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BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum knows what it's like to experience a career-altering injury. It happened to him in Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter. A year later, he watched Game 4 of the first-round playoff series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets on TV and saw guard Donte DiVincenzo suffer the same blow to his Achilles.
Shortly after witnessing the similar gruesome tear, Tatum shared that he'd decided that he would reach out to the T-Wolves starter and offer some advice — even though they'd never had much of a prior relationship.
"It was tough seeing that," Tatum said following the Celtics' Game 4 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in late April. "I never want anybody to go through that injury and what's to come with the rehab process. I only know him from competing against him and things like that, but I know for a fact I’m gonna reach out to him at some point."
Like Tatum, DiVincenzo went to Dr. Martin O'Malley in New York City to repair his leg. That renowned surgeon worked wonders for Tatum, who returned to play for the Celtics in March of the 2025-26 season, which was much sooner than previously thought possible for a player less than a year removed from an Achilles rupture.
Once DiVincenzo had some time to recover, Tatum kept his promise and recently reached out to him, per Timberwolves reporter Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
"You never want to see anybody injured, especially that one," Tatum stated. "I was definitely sick to my stomach seeing him go down because I know exactly how he's feeling. I know exactly what he has to go through. I'm going to be a resource, reach out to him. He has me in his corner, whether he likes it or not.”
Prior to his season-ending injury, DiVincenzo was having one of the most productive years of his NBA career. The former Villanova standout entered all 82 games of the regular season and averaged a career-high 30.4 minutes per outing.
DiVincenzo has yet to turn 30 and if Tatum's comeback proves anything, it's that NBAers can survive an Achilles tear and return to the level of basketball they're used to with a lot of hard work and a little bit of a luck.
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Jayson Tatum delivers on promise to be resource for Donte DiVincenzo following Achilles tear
Continue reading...
Shortly after witnessing the similar gruesome tear, Tatum shared that he'd decided that he would reach out to the T-Wolves starter and offer some advice — even though they'd never had much of a prior relationship.
"It was tough seeing that," Tatum said following the Celtics' Game 4 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in late April. "I never want anybody to go through that injury and what's to come with the rehab process. I only know him from competing against him and things like that, but I know for a fact I’m gonna reach out to him at some point."
Like Tatum, DiVincenzo went to Dr. Martin O'Malley in New York City to repair his leg. That renowned surgeon worked wonders for Tatum, who returned to play for the Celtics in March of the 2025-26 season, which was much sooner than previously thought possible for a player less than a year removed from an Achilles rupture.
Once DiVincenzo had some time to recover, Tatum kept his promise and recently reached out to him, per Timberwolves reporter Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
"You never want to see anybody injured, especially that one," Tatum stated. "I was definitely sick to my stomach seeing him go down because I know exactly how he's feeling. I know exactly what he has to go through. I'm going to be a resource, reach out to him. He has me in his corner, whether he likes it or not.”
Prior to his season-ending injury, DiVincenzo was having one of the most productive years of his NBA career. The former Villanova standout entered all 82 games of the regular season and averaged a career-high 30.4 minutes per outing.
DiVincenzo has yet to turn 30 and if Tatum's comeback proves anything, it's that NBAers can survive an Achilles tear and return to the level of basketball they're used to with a lot of hard work and a little bit of a luck.
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Jayson Tatum delivers on promise to be resource for Donte DiVincenzo following Achilles tear
Continue reading...
