As Jayson Tatum recovered from his Achilles injury, every NBA superstar praised him. For Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, his reaction was no different.
That is his makeup. This is his DNA. That's his perspective," Booker said via AZCentral's Duane Rankin on X (formerly Twitter). "Someone I've looked up to for a really long time since he was in 6th and 7th grade.
"I'm watching him grow into a champion. What he's accomplished at such a young age is inspiring, even if it's small. I'm happy to see him back out there."
When Tatum first came out with an injury, many thought he would not return for the season. But as time progressed, it began to look more likely that the Boston Celtics forward would make his season debut in 2025-26.
But a few weeks ago, he was watching the Celtics beat the Suns 97-81 on Feb. 24. Now, Tatum will face off against Phoenix for the first time all year.
Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum share mutual respect
Both players were part of the 2024 USA Basketball men's national team that captured the gold medal. Although Tatum didn't get a lot of playing time, being a part of a roster like this is quite an accomplishment.
Booker, meanwhile, was the unsung MVP for that team, and something that the Boston star could have been for an Olympic team one day.
Either way, the focus remains on the 2025-26 season, and where the Celtics have a legitimate chance to win the Eastern Conference and make a run for an NBA championship.
