While the injury shouldn't derail Tatum's career, it does give the Celtics a major obstacle to overcome. Boston has been to the conference finals five times and has had a pair of NBA Finals appearances—including a win last year—since 2017. Much of that success, especially over the past five or so years, has been largely due to Tatum.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter of Monday's Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks, and had surgery on Tuesday in New York City to repair the injury.