{"id":572385,"date":"2026-01-31T06:28:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T06:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/572385\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T06:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T06:28:15","slug":"celtics-payton-pritchard-shrugs-off-concerns-about-playing-with-jayson-tatum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/572385\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Shrugs Off Concerns About Playing With Jayson Tatum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jayson Tatum hasn\u2019t stepped onto the court this season, as he is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. But he might be reconsidering<\/a> his return altogether.<\/p>\n

Tatum appeared on \u2018The Pivot Podcast\u2019 hosted by Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor on Tuesday, where he expressed his<\/a> desire not to disrupt the team\u2019s dynamic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something I contemplate every day, Tatum said on if he wants to return this season, via CelticsBlog Ian<\/a> Inangelo. \u201cMore so about the team, if or when I do come back this season, they would have played 50-some odd games without me, so they have an identity this year, or things they\u2019ve felt that have clicked for them, and it\u2019s been successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo there\u2019s a thought in my head that is like, how does that work? How does that look for me to integrate after an injury? And it is a thought like, \u2018Do I come back or should I wait?\u2019 In the last two weeks or so, I contemplate every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though Tatum believes he might risk altering the Celtics\u2019 identity by coming back this season, guard Payton Pritchard isn\u2019t overly worried about it.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo, because we played with him before, so it\u2019s not like some player that got hurt, and we never played with him before, so we know what he likes and how he plays, and we can play off him,\u201d Pritchard said Friday on whether there will be difficulty playing with Tatum if he comes back.<\/p>\n

Payton Pritchard on if there\u2019ll be any difficulty playing with Jayson Tatum if he comes back:<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, because we played with him before, so it’s not like some player that got hurt and we never played with before, so we know what he’s likes and how he plays and we can play off him.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/DvksqIwOKv<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\u2014 Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) January 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Tatum is one of the top players in the NBA, and it would be a shame if he didn\u2019t get on the court this season. His presence would only make Boston stronger. If he can get close to being 100% healthy, the Celtics could definitely be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

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