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What Drake Maye told Jayson Tatum after meet-up during Patriots training camp
"I'm looking forward to seeing him come back."
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was a special guest at Patriots training camp on Wednesday, with the injured superstar taking in the action as New England faced off against the Washington Commanders in a joint practice.
Tatum — who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks in May — was walking gingerly, but without a walking boot.
The Celtics captured video of Tatum catching up with Patriots QB Drake Maye after practice wrapped.
“What’s going on, baby?” Maye asked Tatum. “I’m praying for you, man. How you feeling? You feeling all right?”
“I’m getting better,” Tatum responded.
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Speaking to the media after practice, Maye sent more well wishes toward Tatum — even if the former UNC QB might still hold some collegiate-level beef with the Celtics star.
“Yeah, shoot. He’s a Duke guy, but what he’s done for Boston — and obviously, I told him, ‘What a heartbreak what happened with him,'” Maye said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him come back.”
Beyond their standing as the franchise stalwarts with the Celtics and Patriots, Tatum and Maye also have another connection through college. Maye’s older brother, Luke, played college basketball for the Tar Heels — with his first start coming against Tatum and the Blue Devils in February 2017.
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“His first start was in Cameron against Duke, and he was guarding Jayson his first start,” Maye said. “So, it was pretty cool.”
Tatum’s arrival sans boot stands as another positive development for Tatum, who is still facing an extensive rehab process in his return from the Achilles injury.
Speaking last month, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said that the team has not yet made a call on Tatum’s timeline for a return.
“We’re not even talking about a timeline for return. We’re not even going there,” Stevens said. “And Jayson is working every single day. He has literally been here every day, except he took a few days break. But when he takes a few days break, [trainer] Nick [Sang] goes with him, so he’s still working every single day.
“It’s been unique to be here in June and the early part of July. Both Jayson and Jaylen [Brown] are here. … Jayson was in, moving pretty fast on that boot today, so all indications are they’re both progressing at incredible rates, which is great. But we’re not going to put any pressure on Jayson to get back anytime soon.”
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