Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles on Tuesday, the team announced.
Tatum suffered the injury during the Celtics’ Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday. While attempting to recover a loose ball late in the fourth quarter, Tatum collapsed to the ground and began clutching his right leg.
Tatum was then taken back to the locker room in a wheelchair.
Before the injury, Tatum was having his best performance of the second round. He scored 42 points on 57.1% shooting in 40 minutes, with eight rebounds and four assists, though Boston was trailing by nine points when he left the court.
Prior to Game 4, Tatum had struggled against New York, averaging only 19.3 points through the series’ first three games. In his career, Tatum has averaged 24.3 points across 121 playoff games.
Tatum, 27, is perhaps the NBA’s most accomplished star under 30 years old.
In eight seasons, all with Boston, Tatum has six All-Star selections and three All-NBA First Team selections. He was the All-Star Game MVP in 2023 and helped lead the Celtics to the championship last season, their first since 2008.
Tatum is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Last summer, Tatum and Boston agreed to a five-year, $314 million extension, the largest contract in NBA history. Tatum is signed with the Celtics through 2029, and he has a player option for the 2029-‘30 season worth nearly $71.5 million.
Boston currently trails its best-of-seven series against the Knicks 3-1. Game 5 is on Wednesday.
