‘All it takes…’ Former Boston Celtics star explains how his career-altering injury helped Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum's rise to stardom with the Boston Celtics may have been accelerated by a significant injury to teammate Gordon Hayward during the 2017-18 NBA season. Tatum, drafted 3rd overall in 2017, is now considered the Celtics' most important player, with coach Joe Mazzulla designing plays around him.

Gordon Hayward, a former All-Star, signed with the Celtics as a top free agent in the summer of 2017. However, he suffered a fractured tibia in his very first game for Boston, ending his season immediately. Hayward believes this injury created a crucial opportunity for the rookie Tatum. He stated that as a fellow player in the same position coming off an All-Star season, he would have been the primary focus for coach Brad Stevens' plays instead of Tatum or others like Jaylen Brown or Kyrie Irving. Hayward suggested his absence allowed Tatum to receive the ball more and gain essential playing time, significantly boosting his development.

Tatum himself confirmed his initial concern about Hayward's signing. Shortly after being drafted and learning of Hayward's arrival, Tatum called his agent wanting a trade, fearing he wouldn't start and would come off the bench. His agent advised him to relax and trust the organization to teach him the right way to play, convincing him to stay.