In a touching moment that transcended the sport, Jayson Tatum's teammates prioritized friendship over basketball amid his recovery.

After undergoing surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 4, Tatum has been recuperating in New York City. Following a crucial Game 5 win against the Knicks that delayed their elimination, the Celtics gathered for a heartfelt reunion with Tatum at their hotel.

"We didn’t even discuss basketball," noted Payton Pritchard after their shootaround before Game 6. "It's bigger than basketball now. It was more important to see how he was doing as a person. We’re here for him as friends."

Tatum’s injury is expected to keep him sidelined for the entire next season, a challenging reality for a player who has been a standout in the league, averaging over 73 games per season during his eight-year career.

Pritchard expressed relief in seeing Tatum’s positive spirit despite the circumstances, telling reporters, "He seems to be in great spirits, though he might be getting a little stir crazy being out for so long. As teammates, we want to support him in any way we can."

Sam Hauser echoed these sentiments, stating, "It’s tough to see someone like him go down. But he’s always rooting for us to keep winning. He seemed upbeat. That's what matters to us right now."

While the Celtics refrained from discussing their strategy with Tatum, his absence significantly influenced their gameplay. Tatum is known for his isolation-heavy style, leading to 29.6% of the Celtics' possessions involving him before his injury, second only to James Harden this postseason.

Without Tatum, the Celtics adapted quickly to a faster game plan during Game 5, a strategy that might become their new norm. Pritchard added, "Jayson is an incredible talent. Losing him means we need to change our approach, focusing on pace and off-ball movement to keep competitive."