MEXICO CITY — Everyone deals with injuries differently, even if the process one goes through for a particular injury is largely the same from person to person. There are plenty of good reasons for that particularity when it comes to recovering from physical distress for NBA stars given it is all anyone seems to want to talk to them about after it happens, and at a moment that player’s primary means of making a living is also damaged, at least for the moment.
Star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum seems comfortable with his recovery process and speaking about it, but he also went through a long stretch of the offseason where he was ubiquitously absent from the NBA media cycle. Some people also just don’t like talking about that sort of thing, even when it is someone they are close with. Others see it as bad manners in a lot of situations, which it can be if not dealt with diplomatically.
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For that reason, when I sat down with former Celtics wing Javonte Green at the open practice for the Detroit Pistons at Arena Mexico ahead of the NBA’s 2025 Mexico Game, I did not ask him about the twin icepacks on his knees, even if it was relevant to some of what I wanted to speak to him about.
Oct 26, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talks to Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Green, who missed the postseason with Boston while playing for the team after an injury to his right knee sidelined him for the 2020 NBA Playoffs, was in town to play the Dallas Mavericks in Mexico City. Celtics Wire took advantage of his visit to pick his brain a bit about what he thinks about the chatter surrounding a potential return for Tatum, his friend and former teammate.
The NBA moves like a river — while the club remains from season to season, what’s contained within its roster is in constant flux — so most of the players who were on Boston’s roster while Tatum and Green played together have since moved on, yet the Duke alum and Green have stayed close.
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“I had this conversation with my mom this past weekend,” said Green. “There’s only three players there that were there when I was there (Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard — ed.). But, yeah, me and Jayson are still really close. We talk a lot –we talk a lot.”
They may talk a lot, but there is one thing they do NOT talk about — Tatum’s Achilles injury.
Dec 22, 2019; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall (99) and guard Javonte Green (43) pour water on forward Jayson Tatum (0) after defeating the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
“Like for me, I’m not checking and seeing how you’re doing and stuff like that,” explained the Pistons wing. “But I already know how sensitive that is to players that go through injuries, like a special major injury like that. So I just check in and just make sure he’s well, that’s it.”
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“I’m not really into just talking about the injuries. I know how sensitive he is. And I can see that his progression is going well,” he added. “So that’s all that matters.”
As to whether he believes Tatum should return to the court this season, Green only wants to see him back on the court healthy — whenever that happens. “Man, I’ve seen him this summer,” he recalled. “He said that was his goal.”
“His goal was to come back this season. But me being a friend, being a person to care for him, I only want the best for him. So I tell him to take his time and make sure he comes back when he’s ready.”
Whenever the St. Louis native is fully cleared and mentally ready, Tatum SHOULD return to the court. But no need to rush anything given the import he has to this team, and the league.
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And his friends and family, whether they talk about his injury or not.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Javonte Green, Jayson Tatum still keep in touch–but not about injuries