NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Star’s Concerns For Season May Open Chance For Rookie

The Boston Celtics are among the more highly followed teams in the league with their rich history and consistent performance in the Eastern Conference. While they remain as favorites, speculation has emerged of their star player Jayson Tatum showing concerns about the modified season.

It was initially reported, per the NY Daily News’ Stefan Bondy, by way of Celtics Blog, that their star player has some reluctance in resuming the season at this global landscape.

“Then there’s the threat of injury, which is especially significant to players on the verge of big contracts,” Bondy wrote.

“According to a source, Boston Celtics’ forward Jayson Tatum, who is eligible for a max extension in the offseason, has expressed reluctance to play for that reason,” Bondy continued.

This reason was however disputed by another claim. Per NBC Sports’ Sherrod Blakely, a source denied Tatum’s reluctance comes from contract concerns.

“He’s concerned like every other player about returning to play. There’s a lot … going on in the world that players need to be more concerned about. But sitting out because of the contract? Hell no,” the source said.

Whether or not Tatum sits out, the Celtics have promising talent that has the ability to step up. Per Hardwood Houdini, Romeo Langford is one of the young talents that would benefit from the added experience.

While Langford hasn’t seen many minutes, when given the playing time, the 20-year-old has proven to be productive. In one of his best performances in the season, the young guard tallied 16 points and three blocks in a 112-107 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

While Langford’s playing time won’t be certain, Tatum’s impact for the Celtics is key for Boston’s run in the playoffs. The former number three overall pick has blossomed into a first-time All-Star this season and is in the best form of his career. Couple this with Jaylen Brown’s stellar year and seasoned All-Star Kemba Walker, the Celtics have their eyes set in competing for a deep postseason run.

It will be interesting to see how the NBA continues in the near future and if Tatum ends up playing and if promising players such as Langford see time on the court.