The NBA world quickly reacted to the seemingly devastating injury to Jayson Tatum late in the Knicks’ win over the Celtics in Game 4 on Monday night.
Tatum suffered what Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had described as a “lower-body injury” with just over three minutes to play, sending him to the floor in pain and needing to be helped off the court at Madison Square Garden.
Tatum suffered the injury as he went for a loose ball and appeared to plant his right leg before going down immediately in excruciating pain.
At one point, the ESPN broadcast showed Tatum with his hands over his face and having to be moved in a wheelchair in the locker room area at MSG.
Several NBAers reacted on social media after the injury to the Celtics star.
“Prayers for 0!” Hornets forward Grant Williams wrote on X, along with the praying hands emoji. “Too many have gone down this year.”
Jayson Tatum on the court during Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2025.Jason Szenes / New York Post
Isaiah Thomas posted the praying hands emoji and simply wrote, “Tatum.”
LeBron James also posted the praying hands emoji and wrote, “Big Deuce.”
Tatum’s teammates reacted with equal concern, with Jaylen Brown barely able to come up with the words to discuss the injury.
“It’s tough,” Brown said. “There’s really not a lot to say.”
“The loss is the loss,” Al Horford told reporters. “More importantly, it’s Jayson that I’m worried about. Just making sure that I’m there for him and that’s my priority.”
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics is helped off the court by trainers after getting injured during the second half.Jason Szenes / New York Post
Former Celtics center Enes Freedom also sent his well wishes to Tatum in a post on social media.
“Sending out prayers to my brother Jayson Tatum,” he wrote.
The well wishes extended beyond just the NBA world.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is helped off the court.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman posted, “This is rough. Thinking about ya.”
And NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes reacted to the news.
“Prayers up man,” he wrote.
