Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Opens Up About His Achilles, His Mom & Fighting to Come Back

Before the 2026 NBA playoffs began, NBA Champion and 6-Time All-Star Jayson Tatum sat down with Craig Melvin on Glass Half Full for an unfiltered look at his journey from the courts of St. Louis to the top of the basketball world. Tatum opens up about the moment he tore his Achilles against the Knicks in the 2025 playoffs, what he heard, what he felt, and what the 47-week road back has really looked like. He also shares the story of growing up in a single parent household, the plan he made with his mom at five years old, and the full circle moment when that kid from St. Louis finally got to sit across from his idol Kobe Bryant. Off the court, Tatum gets candid about becoming a father at 19, raising his two sons Deuce and Dylan, and making peace with his own dad. Glass Half Full is a new podcast from TODAY’s Craig Melvin. Each week, Craig sits down with a celebrity, athlete, comedian or just plain fascinating person for intimate conversations that feel like catching up with an old friend. With warmth, humor, and curiosity, he explores how setbacks become breakthroughs — and how you never really know when that moment can become the moment that changes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.