Not everyone wants Jayson Tatum to return from the Achilles tendon injury he sustained vs. the New York Knicks in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals this season. And some of them have some especially relevant life experience to base that opinion on – Isaiah Thomas, in particular.
The onetime King in the Fourth weighed in on Tatum's potential return on an episode of his semi-eponymous "Point Game with Isaiah Thomas" podcast in a conversation with guest Jamal Crawford. And given IT wreaked havoc on his hip and NBA career by trying to play on an injured limb (if with a very different injury), his position is not a hard one to understand regarding the future of the St. Louis native in the league and the danger a quick return might pose. "Personally, I don't feel like he should come back," said Thomas. "Being a guy that's been injured before this that they that got injured playing your best basketball ever and then coming back and being expected to be that same person right away."
"It's like you're in a lose-lose situation," he added. "And to be on a really good team like all of this has happened to me, so I'm talking from experience."
"I don't think there's a rush for him to come back," continued IT. "You come back and say you play, okay, and you guys don't win. Who are they blaming? They're blaming you," said Thomas. "That's just unnecessary pressure put on yourself."
"And then it's an Achilles tear. So, it's like, let's not rush this back. Yes, they've done probably the right steps. And yes, he's probably getting healthy and he feels like he's good enough to play for sure. And I've been that age, too, and being young – (it's) just that your pride and your ego and you (are) feeling like you're missing out on things."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Not everyone wants Jayson Tatum to return to the Celtics this season