There’s so much fun to be had on (and leading up to) Thanksgiving Day. Here are some ideas!
Jayson Tatum has the best support system as he recovers from a daunting injury.
The 27-year-old NBA superstar, who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2024 before suffering a torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs, is opening up about the rehab process after undergoing surgery in May.
And part of that process involved moving in with his mom, Brandy Cole-Barnes, since he couldn’t climb stairs and didn’t have a bedroom on the first floor of his home.
“It was kind of like being in high school again,” he told Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones during a Sept. 23 appearance on “Jenna & Friends” — his first interview since the surgery.
Jayson Tatum’s injury came on May 12 during Game 4 of the Celtics’ Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks, according to ESPN.
The star player lunged forward late in the game when he heard a loud pop — one of the worst sounds an athlete could hear.
He knew exactly what it meant: a torn Achilles tendon.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, recovery from a torn Achilles takes anywhere from four to 12 months depending on the severity of the injury.
Most professional athletes don’t make a full return for 10 months, per ESPN.
That process began on May 13 when Tatum underwent surgery — one day after suffering the injury.
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In the four months since, Tatum has leaned on his two “best friends” to help him through rehab: his mom and his 7-year-old son Deuce — born Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr.
“He was just always asking, like, ‘Daddy, you need an extra pillow?’ ‘Daddy, do you want me to go get you something to drink?’” Tatum told Bush Hager of his son, whom he shares with Toriah Lachell Mimms.
Deuce would also bring his dad his scooter, which he needed in order to maneuver around the house.
“When I did start going to rehab, and I had to walk down, like, two or three steps, he was like, ‘Daddy, let me open the door for you,’” Tatum added of his son’s sweet gestures.
Jayson Tatum credits his family for keeping his spirits high
In addition to Deuce, Tatum also shares a 14-month old baby, Dylan, with British singer Ella Mai, according to Page Six.
He said his support system showed out in a major way throughout the recovery process.
“Having my mom, having Deuce and my youngest son, Dylan, having my friends around — when they didn’t know that they were helping me, just being around, being joyful, uplifting my spirits,” he said.
In an interview with People, published Sept. 23, Tatum said the injury came with a “silver lining.”
While it kept him away from basketball, the injury brought him closer to his sons.
"Dylan got to nap a bunch on Daddy's chest on the couch," Jayson Tatum’s mom told People. She even set up a fenced-in play area in the backyard with a rocking chair so Tatum could watch his sons play.
Despite the setback, Jayson Tatum’s kids weren’t phased by their father’s injury.
“They didn’t see him any different. They’re like, ‘He’s still Superman.’ They still see him as this amazing giant figure who can do anything. I am certain that helped him,” Cole added.
While Tatum will miss the start of the 2025-26 season, he’s looking forward to getting back on the court when he’s ready — not just for himself, but for his sons, too.
“What kind of a life lesson is that if I was like, 'This might be too much, I'll just call it quits'?” he told People.
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“As a parent, you want your kids to be proud of you, I want them to look at me like, ‘He showed me what it’s like to fight through adversity. I want my kids to see that Dad didn’t give up,’” he added.
