After releasing Episode 2 last night during the Celtics game against the 76ers, Episode 3 was shown postgame and posted on Jayson Tatum’s YouTube channel titled ‘The Long Road Ahead.’ It’s a very interesting development since his documentary was supposed to come out weekly on NBC but they decided to release this new episode early. With rumors of a potential return for Jayson Tatum coming soon, there might be a chance we get the next episodes sooner rather than later.
We left off with Tatum in the
hospital where he had just come out of surgery. In this new episode, it goes over the beginning stages of his recovery and what he was able to do to restrengthen his muscles.
The episode opens 2 days after Tatum got the surgery and he was seen on a scooter just trying to move around. He described his mindset at this time saying, “I really thought it was over.” Video then showed Tatum trying to scoot up steps sitting down to his house and he felt discouraged about never being but in this position before. Brandy Cole then talked about the times where Jayson would say things like “I might not play again.”
We then cut to 15 days after the surgery and Tatum has a visit with Dr. Martin O’Malley. O’Malley takes off the initial bandages to reveal the stitches on the back of his foot where the surgery had taken place. Nick Sang then explained how there were moments when Tatum just had a blank stare and said, “it’s tough to see someone you care about be at an all time low.”
We cut back to the Celtics practice facility where Tatum was sitting at his locker. People were asking him when he was going to play again and he said “I just want to walk again.” Cole said she let Jayson work through his frustrations but would always remind him “it’s okay to feel like this, get it out, and let’s get back to work.”
We then go to the Celtics training room where Sang talks about when Tatum is confronted with a challenge, he is going to attack it. A montage was then showed of the different types of workouts and therapies that Tatum was doing just to try and get back. Over the clips of the rehab he said, “This long ass journey ahead just to get back on the court can be discouraging, but I was never not going to work as hard as I could. I was never not going to take care of my body. I was 100% invested.”
We then fast forward to day 43 after the surgery where Tatum has another appointment with Dr O’Malley. O’Malley loved the progress he was making and said Tatum was allowed to start doing a little more strenuous activities. He said to Tatum, “You’re as good as anyone has ever been. Six weeks I’m counting you’re going to go back to being Jayson Tatum the way you were before.” Tatum responded with, “I’m not coming back to be no role player doc…we’ll get back doc, we’ll get back” then it fades to black.
