Jayson Tatum says he’s returning ‘without fear’ as Celtics star shines in first game after devastating injury

The way through anything is sometimes through everything. Working through the pain, playing through scoring droughts, making a way through self-doubt and not ceding to mental strain are all part of what makes Jayson Tatum a superstar.

After a horrendous injury which sidelined him, he returned to fairly decent condition, dropping a double-double in a winning match against the Dallas Mavericks.

The tenacity embedded in Tatum’s choices combined with training and rehabilitation have led him to continue on his journey of basketball glory. With his presence on the court being measured and scrutinized following his time away from the sport he loves, he has the power to bring about his own revolution.

In the same way that figures like the GOAT Michael Jordan performed after an injury, Tatum grasps the role and responsibility to himself to be the best damn player he can possibly be. As a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and an NBA champion, he seems poised to become one of the one hundred greatest players to ever have picked up the orangish-brown roundball.

The drive and the ambition show him to be a beacon for beantown. And the journey was not done alone. His son “Deuce” has been right beside him during this entire journey. He’s the physical embodiment of what it means to have inspiration. The son-dad dynamic perpetuates itself in the growing number of photographs that Tatum took with his boy.

This is crucial. The story goes that when faced with adversity, one has two options; either you can focus or fold. Deuce has helped his father mentally prepare to get back in the groove and find his rightful spot amongst the elite players in the league.

His power lies in the fact that Deuce drives him every day to achieve excellence in his endeavors. He ensures that his son is with him in the locker room, on the plane, and courtside. With his bond with his Mini-Me, he has demonstrated just how important it is to raise a son. For those who didn’t have a father in the household, it would be opportune to raise sons especially in this climate of blurred ethics and false moralities.

By taking into account the reality of the game of basketball, hell, any sport, there’s one thing you can count on: injuries. I’m sure there’s probably a betting system that is in line for placing wagers on athletes who get hurt. That’s despicable. Tatum is the pro-thought player that rises above such silly nonsense. He has the ability to dig deep within himself and credit his son for his rehabilitation.

That very idea of having your son a wingman, following along with you to peaks of greatness amidst despair and turmoil is why we love sports. Often, they’re said to be metaphors for life. We invest in them with our time and money and get back extraordinary experiences. Through the work and toil, aches and strains, Tatum has excelled. With Deuce by his side, he’s been able to be a stalwart for greatness and achievement. Despite all of the media hype and the doctors and the scans and tests, Tatum has been able to surmount all of the odds stacked against him.

When Deuce is older, he will recall that his father made a great impression both as dad and player. With him stepping along with his dad, he will know the power behind the relationship he has fostered with him.

Tatum might be ready for his time in the spotlight on one of the greatest stages in the land, but Deuce is going to be there with every shot.