Boston Celtics superstar small forward Jayson Tatum elected not to have offseason surgery on his left wrist, according to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Tatum is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season in 74 games while shooting 46.6% from the field, 35.0% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics Updates
The 25-year-old Tatum has made four All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams with the Celtics. The Duke product has career averages of 22.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 439 games with Boston.
The Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. Boston has made the playoffs every year since drafting Tatum with the third overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Celtics reached the 2022 NBA Finals but lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
During an interview with Jeff Goodman of The Messenger, Tatum said he loves playing for the Celtics and that it would be “hard” to leave.
“You never know what can happen, but I love playing for the Celtics,” Tatum said. “I figured out my space in the city and have grown to really enjoy it. I love the fans. It would be really hard to leave this place.”
Tatum could be eligible for a $338 million extension next offseason, according to NBA insider Bobby Marks of ESPN. Jaylen Brown signed a five-year, $304 million supermax extension with the Celtics this offseason.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics Updates
Boston is expected to start Derrick White, Brown, Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in 2023-24. The Celtics traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.
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