Celtics Fall to Nuggets in Denver // Will Jayson Tatum Return this Season? - 2/26 (Hour 3)

This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to Astound. Shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear. Reliable, affordable connection. So you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted. Because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. Under budget, full speed ahead. That's Astound. Gig Wi-Fi for $50 a month with a three-year price lock. Restrictions apply. See Astound.com for details. Is Felder and Maz your favorite afternoon show? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. For Felder and Maz. And for three games and three quarters, it was one heck of a road trip for the Celtics, but they run out of gas at altitude. That's a bad combination as a result. The Celtics take a battle off. Clock hits triple zeros. The Celtics' win streak is over, and they will head back home, still sitting second in the Eastern Conference. The final score, Denver 103, Boston 84. Too bad, just in the old Filgar world, because I have not really been able to watch the Celtics for a while. And this was a game I taped. I didn't stay up for it. I taped it, watched it the next day, and engaged to actually watch a game. And it was really a nothing kind of game. And I really blame the Celtics at the end of a road trip, second of back-to-back. I know that Jalen Brown had sat out night one, but they were road-weary or just an off night or whatever. I thought it was a bad product. But that's a league issue. This game shouldn't be scheduled the second night of a back-to-back where the Celtics look dead-legged at the end of a trip. It's stupid. It's true. It's so true. Save the back-to-backs for freaking the bottom of the barrel. Charlotte. Sacramento. Exactly. What are you doing with a marquee game? Your ESPN game is the second of a back-to-back. That's just stupid. I don't know why the league continues to do that. It is stupid. You have to play back-to-backs. I understand that. But the marquee game should not be the back-to-back, but they keep doing it. But anyway, it's just a bad product. There's just a ton of missed three-point shots on both sides. I'll just give you a couple thoughts, though. You know, Maz was talking about this yesterday, how Jalen Brown is this guy. Until he gets into the playoffs, and they start to pressure the ball, and the next thing you know, he's turning the ball over. Bruce Brown got into him. and the next thing you know he's dribbling the ball he had four turnovers but there were certain trips up the floor where brown decided to uh bruce brown decided to get into him and jalen brown couldn't handle the pressure and that's sort of the downside of jalen brown you just saw it in little snippets there when bruce brown's decided to get but it was a good night for jalen brown at all i mean that's the way to play him you know get get up on him yeah get up on him and make him put the ball on the floor and maybe that seven to 21 from the floor one of six from beyond the line Vucevic, I guess, is making you better. But I don't know. He was garbage last night. So, again, I haven't been watching a ton, so this is my reintroduction. And not only did he get schooled by Jokic, which he should be, but Valanciunas was much better. Is Vucevic coming off the bench? He has been, yeah, and he's been playing well up until last night, of course. Okay. 1 of 7, 0 of 4. Of course, you watch and they suck. I know. So the night I watch. I'm not making a joke. I'm just telling you what I watched last night. I blame you for this. but like they got tushed by those big guys big time and it wasn't just jokic it's valentunas no it's true valentunas ate him up too last much better than vucevic he's a good backup for jokic like that's a good combo but anyway go ahead what else on jokic stood out to you man's how fat he is he's freaking huge like and again you know if we're gonna pick on luca i gotta pick on And Jokic, and I understand he's not the most athletically gifted guy in the world, and the body is the body. But holy crap, he's gigantic. Seriously, he's a whale out there. You see him move around? Yes. He's an island. Like, dude, drop a couple. But he still picked the Celtics apart on both ends of the floors. It's not like Doncic in that it looks like it's affecting his game, and he's kind of a slob, and you could be better. Jokic, if anything, just kind of looks bored at times because the game comes so easy to him. Exactly right. So he gets away with it because of that. But his lift is kind of embarrassing. It is. And there was like, there was an offensive rebound that he got last night. It was like he was just shooting by himself in the gym. Like he missed and grabbed it and kind of flipped it back. You know what I mean? Like, you know, when you're alone and you miss a layup, you grab it, you flip it back up. It's exactly what he did. And, you know, of course it goes in because he's, you know, he's unbelievably, in terms of game sense, he's off the charts. But the way to play him, make him run. You can make him run right up and down the floor. He's a freaking cow. The guy's gigantic. There's bothersome fatness in sports. He doesn't bother me. Because, again, he's just so damn good. Jokic, Sandoval, guys like that, you look at him and like, you're a slob. And you could be so much better. But you love eating ice cream too much more than you love your job. Jokic, I don't think it really matters. So, Murray's right. It affects him less than it would Doncic because of the position. and defensively he's going to be hanging around near the basket in some way, shape, or form. Or just goes key to key a lot of times. Yeah, right. So I get it. But I also like – He does not go down low a lot of times. No, but it would – you know, the other thing is, and this might be a body thing, but does he lift? He looks like he's made of mashed potatoes. A little doughy. It's just one big bucket of mashed potatoes. so like they got a you know can he get a little bit of physique just to make it a little bit more appealing to the eye it's like you're watching him he's just this big blob moving around on the floor I love the guy love him as a player you would never believe it by the way I'm talking but there were a couple of times he was moving around last night and I was like holy crap he is huge he is just he's huge let me get to tatum and the drama surrounding his return and it's just so effing dumb the stuff i'm hearing so dumb by real basketball you don't know basketball felger i'm not listen i'm listening to people who know basketball who played basketball at a high level talk this crap you're welcome and it is entertaining but it's just it's unique to the nba and it's just so absurd to me i'll just so uh get up my mike greenberg experience here with jay williams and alan han but jay williams obviously elite player in his own right and analyst excellent analyst discussing tatum's return jimmy just give him a number one from the 8 a.m hour please i don't want to see him come back too early and jeopardize it. And also, everybody says, oh, he'll come back. You know how hard it is to come back? If you think about coming back during March or April for a guy like this just to fit all of a sudden into this system seamlessly, and they're going to find their room. This whole team has been playing with... Okay. Like, my first problem with this premise is is... Should they bring him back? What do you mean, should they bring him back? with like it's the team's decision it no no this is the way it works the doctors look at him and decide you're ready or you're not simple as that the injury is healed you are not going to risk further damage if you play you have the green light then this is a two-layered thing The doctor says green light, and then the player has to feel comfortable. And I don't begrudge it. If the player says, yeah, the doctor said I'm okay, but you know what? I don't really feel okay. It's a mental hurdle. Whether it's mental or even physically. He says it's totally healed. I feel something down there, and I don't feel comfortable. I don't feel comfortable mentally or physically. But that's it. It's not Joe Missoula's decision. It's not Bill Chisholm's decision. It's not the team's decision. What are we talking about? The doctor says yes or no, and then the player has the ultimate decision to say, I feel comfortable to do it or I don't. And if the player doesn't feel comfortable, most times I'll defer to the player. Sometimes, you know, we know players get a little soft or, you know, certain players develop reputations of not grinding through injuries, and then we get on them, and I think we're okay to. tatum's not in that category tatum's a guy that plays and has played through everything he posts he plays i have zero question uh about jason tatum's toughness or willingness to play through injury he plays so if jason tatum says to me i don't feel comfortable physically or mentally with the injury totally acceptable as far as i'm concerned that's an acceptable reason to sit out He doesn't feel right. But it's not a decision for the team or anyone else. The doctor says yes or no, and then the player says yes or no, and that's it. So what is this? And the system? How's he going to fit into the system, Jay? Go ahead. Keep going. Seamlessly, and they're going to find their rhythm. This whole team has been playing without him for a long period of time. Playing very well. And playing very well. You're going to disrupt that. I much rather see him come back in the offseason and work his way into the season next year and jeopardize it and maybe re-injure himself. A year is usually what it takes. Some players have come back. Dominique Wilkins came back in 10 months. Kobe, eight months, right? But they didn't parachute into a playoff run. You know, you're talking about Wesley Matthews did it in seven months. But a star player who would be expected to do a lot, to parachute in when everybody else is now already going 100 miles an hour, you're trying to ramp. Jay, no one knows this better than you because of what you had to come back from and how hard it was to come back. To understand that when you've been out for a while, to jump in at the start of a season stuff, to jump in at the start of the playoffs, that's got to be a big challenge. And also, all the players then defer to you. Can you pause for a second? Yeah. It really is wild. That first-round perfunctory five-game gentlemen sweep against the Charlotte Hornets? They're talking about the sweet spot for coming back from an injury like this is if you're on a suck-bottom dweller team. Exactly. That would be the best for Tatum. If the Celtics really sucked and they were scuffling and maybe a play-in team, that they're this good, oh, what a burden. No one wants this. It is crazy. I wonder, did Tatum's people get to the NBA world and say, listen, we're a little dry in episode four. We need you to gin up a bunch of bull crap, a bunch of fake drama, because we need to run clips and then Tatum, and we need Tatum to overcome something. So we need him to overcome the doubters and the questions that are being raised. I like that conspiracy, but I don't think that's the case. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. What are you talking about? So he shouldn't come back. The doctor clears him. He's good in his mind to come back. The team's contending for a championship, but he shouldn't come back because how's he going to find his rhythm? Correct. or how they're going to find their rhythm or to be dropped into a first-round playoff series against some lamb that you're going to beat in five games is asking too much. Yes. Dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb. The way this is being talked about Ridiculous Keep going And they talking about look i know it a major injury in the sports world but they talking about it like you know wesley matthews came back in seven months i don even know that to steal the bill bolichick line they're talking about it like he had open heart surgery kobe came back in eight okay so if datum comes back next month it's nine months it's it's quick but it's not unprecedented No, it's not. Keep going, Jimmy. Doesn't fit, though. The more I hear of it, the more it just sends me into orbit. Go. To jump in at the start of a season stuff, to jump in at the start of the playoffs, that's got to be a big challenge. And also, all the players then defer to you on the court, and it hinders the growth that they made, all the strides they made throughout the course of the regular season. Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Think of what Jay Williams is saying there. tatum's been cleared to come back he's in his mind ready to come back they're contending for a championship but he shouldn't come back because that's going to hinder the growth of shireman what's his first name baylor shireman or hugo gonzalez yep don't forget jordan walsh or jordan walsh is that for real i know that's ridiculous is that for real it is we're not going to come back when you're contending for a championship you have a chance to go to the nba finals and you're healthy but you're not going to come back because it's going to interrupt the growth of baylor shireman is this the dumbest stuff you've ever heard it's very it's dumb up there but is it informed i mean are they getting it from someone from the team or someone that feels like this is transition now for this season to jalen brown's team we're running a different offense. We're a faster team, more ball movement. And so if Tatum comes back and it's going to be three-centric and he's going to be coming back a little slower from the injury, that might muck things up a bit. I think it's nuts because you're a good team. You're going to get your best player back. That should be the end of the story. This theory's coming from somewhere. I'm convinced. It's coming from this NBA drama circle. And again, to me, it is so asinine that I half wonder if Tatum called up his dookie, Jay Will, and said, Jay, we're a little dry in episode four. Can you give us some stuff here that I can respond to and overcome and help me gin up this because this is dumb. It is dumb. It might be that soon. You're going to worry about impeding the growth of Hugo Gonzalez? Who are we talking about? It's ridiculous. Whose growth are we impeding? What are we talking about there? It probably is Gonzalez. Keep going, Jimmy. Just keep going. It gets dumber and dumber. And it hinders the growth that they made all the strides they made throughout the course of the regular season because now everybody's going to stop i'm like how do we fit jason tatum into our offensive flow how does he fit into our rhythm that doesn't happen is it on it doesn't happen overnight like i don't want to diminish the fact that they're going to have to make adjustments when he comes back that is it's true it's the it's the reluctance of it that's crazy i know that it would be some sort of justification to not come back is the part that is absolutely mind-blowingly stupid and they might they might do it or they might sell you on that there's only one reason for him not to come back one one he's had a setback and he hasn't been cleared right physically at risk or he deems himself physically to not be ready right if it's it's possible the doctor says green light and he says i don't feel right right it's physical i yeah it could be it's still you say i'm good I don't feel good. And you said I can't risk further injury. I don't have that trust. And Tatum's allowed to make that decision. I'm definitely giving him that. It's short of the doctor saying no or Tatum himself saying no for purely physical reasons. There is no rationale to not bring him back. I agree. None. If he's had a setback and not ready medically, obviously don't come back. And if he doesn't feel right physically and mentally, don't come back. Other than that, any other talk, you've got to be making it up for his reality show. You have to be. It's the dumbest crap I've ever heard. We talk about no other sport like this. But in the NBA, somehow we do. There's more. They keep going. I'm yelling at the TV like, you can't believe this. Keep going, Jimmy. Give me the second cut. Is it unfair to Jalen Brown? What? Why? Why is it unfair to Jalen Brown? What do you mean unfair to Jalen Brown? Because it's become his team this year. It's his team. Wait, wait, wait, wait. I think it's more the other thing. It's unfair to Jalen Brown if he doesn't come back. Why is it unfair to Jalen? So wait a minute. They have a chance to be better. They have a chance to win a championship. But it's unfair to Brown because it's supposed to be, quote, unquote, his team. So it's more important that we clearly define whose team it is. In the NBA, yes. versus what gives us the best chance to win a championship. Again, no other sport are we talking like this. No other. None. And I'm not saying I agree with this. I'm just trying to rationalize it. I can understand this because of the NBA and because when you have these two stars and two alphas on a team, who cares if it's quote-unquote fair to Jalen Brown or quote-unquote fair to Jason Tatum? It's about winning, and they have a chance to win. In a perfect world, yes. And the best player has a chance to come back and impact them winning at a high level. What else matters? Well, my shine, how I've looked at it in the league from my peers. Do you really think that that's in play here? A thousand percent. Oh, come on. Then you must not think much of Jalen Brown or Jason Tatum as men and professionals. No, it's not. This is just the NBA. This is what happens with the stars in the league. I think these are serious. And I'm not being sarcastic. These are serious, dedicated, driven professionals who care about winning and care about the team and care about their brands, but also care about winning at a high level and they're serious, mature professionals. And we're not going to come back because we're worried about it being unfair to Jalen Brown because it's supposed to be, quote, unquote, his team. Why am I even bothering with your sport if that's really what we're talking about here? Mike, I said this to you earlier in the year. I think it's actually the opposite with Brown, that it's more insulting if Tatum can play in dozens. Agreed 1,000%. This guy's been busting his ass all year long, has them in the position they're in. I thought the Vucevic deal, you know, all the basketball people are saying that has improved the team. So you know what? I'll stand down on that one. I thought it was a money dump. And if Vucevic had been making more money, they would have acquired him. Okay, but whatever. If it helps the team, it helps the team. Last night felt like a money dump, but go ahead. Okay, so, but you're asking Brown to carry the team basically all year long. Now all of a sudden they can get one of the, you know, home court rather in the first round of the playoffs. They have a seed that high. And if Tatum can play, you're going to look Brown squarely in the eye and say, no, it's okay if you get hurt. We want him healthy for the beginning of next year. These are things they do have to figure out. I'm not saying that they're not real things. I'm saying these guys are arguing that it's a reason for him not to come back. No. No, no. You come back and you figure all this stuff out. Go ahead. Jimmy, keep going. Is it unfair to Jalen Brown, too, because he has emerged as an MVP candidate. It's unfair to him? Yes, Jay Will said yes, it's unfair to Jalen Brown. He's a bona fide leader of this team. He comes in, there's this sense of deferral, there's this sense of how do I work him in. Like, for me, I understand what Tatum's doing, and I understand the Celtics for wanting to give him a why right now. Good for his mental to keep working and have something to achieve, but I don't know if it's the best thing for the team right now. Okay, so he shouldn't come back because it's unfair to Jalen Brown. It's going to take the shine away from Jalen Brown of the MVP caliber season he's having. If that's really the way the NBA works. You know it is, Mike. Then why am I bothering with your sport? Don't tell me. I don't want to believe it. And I don't believe it, Jim. I don't. I think you're in denial with stuff like this. I think it's an easy sort of cliche thing to say about the NBA. I think these guys give a crap more than you give them credit for. They are harder working and tougher than you give them credit for. And if I think that they're not going to bring Tatum back because they're going to take shine away from Jalen Brown, then I'm saying that these guys are a bunch of clowns that don't give a crap. And I don't believe that about these guys. I think they're hardworking professionals in all of that. But I also think that their will to win isn't what it was now that they have won. They still want to win, but the more important thing to them is their brand right now. Okay, listen, there's more if you want to hear it. I do. We went so long. Quick break and we'll be right back. Don't go in. Hi, I'm Sean Flaherty, managing partner of Catch's Law Group. And for over 40 years, Catch's Law has been more than just a law firm. We've been your neighbors. We've stood with New England families through good times and through tough times. That's why the New England Patriots chose us to be their official law firm. Because we know what this region is built on. Hard work, grit, and loyalty. At Catch's Law, we fight for workers who are injured on the job, families who have been wronged, and neighbors who need a voice. When you need someone in your corner, turn to the team that's been here for decades. Visit CatchesLaw.com today. This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to a sound. Shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear. Reliable, affordable connection. So you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted. Because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. Under budget, full speed ahead. That's astound. Wi-Fi starting at $19.95 per month. Restrictions apply. See astound.com for details. Hey, it's Owen. Shaking things up a bit. No formal intro. 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What caught me when he was on the Pivot podcast more recently was him saying, like, I want to make sure I can fit in to what this team is doing. Like, they're a different team, obviously, than the one that he left, different personnel. What did you make of that, of Tatum saying like, hey, you know, I want to make sure I fit in to what this group is doing? I remember we had a conversation about that. I just shut it down and said, bro, you don't fit in. You stand out. When you come back, everybody sees you guys. This is your. So cut that goofy out your head, period. You're the big dog. The one step you can take is take gratitude for how your team has developed when you been out Like it a better situation to come back and being like hey the paws have grown on my puppies quote as opposed to having to come back on a bad Achilles. And they're like, hey, big dog, you got to carry us to the promised land. Evan Turner on with Chris Mannix there, Maz. Why did that comment stand out to you? Because, look, I think somebody's got to give it to Tatum straight. And Turner and Tatum apparently have a good relationship from when Turner was here and their buddies. And he said, yeah, I talked to him about this, and I told him, get that out of your head. Get that bleep out of your head. I still just, Maz, I honestly can't believe that it's in his head. And I think he's, it's so ridiculous. Mike, I'm telling you, it's the people around him. That I have to, what do you mean the people around him? The people around him are saying, Jason, hold back, because you might ruin a good thing that they got going without you. Well, I think they're saying it for other reasons, but I think they're saying be careful about coming back. Because it might make you look bad? Yeah. You might not be 100%. The team gets in the playoffs and you're not playing well, it'll fall on you. I want to separate the two things. Okay, right. So it might fall on you. Yeah. You might look bad. Yeah. That's another thing that is, I find, impossible to believe and such a ridiculous reason not to come back because you might look bad. Okay, but again, those are like business people and advisors. and again I don't know this I'm just guessing but I'd be willing to bet that it happens but the thing is I'm not sure I can fit in I have to make sure I fit in I can't believe Tatum actually feels that way I have to believe he's saying that to gin up fake drama for his TV show how could an all NBA player who's won at his level and been the man everywhere he's been suddenly get to this stage as one of the best players in the league and say, I don't know if I can fit in. That's preposterous to me. Okay, so. So preposterous that it has to be fake. It has to be fake, ginned up NBA drama. Do you remember Gasper's theory on it? That. He's needy. And he wants people to say, no, no, no, we need you back. Okay, so he doesn't really feel it. It's just sort of a play. He thinks he feels it. It's a play. Okay, yeah. So that I could see. It's false modesty. Right. So, like, but do I think there is a – I'm not telling you that it's legit, but do I think it's happening? Yeah, I do. This whole thing about – I'm with Murray on this part of it. Yes, I do. A reason not to do it, according to these guys, and a lot of guys, is how he would look or how Brown would look. How you would look? Who gives a flying F how you look? Or will I get blamed? Or what? your job is to win and you do want to win right you i know you do so who cares who cares what people say or how you look or what like but this is part of the conversation it is jay williams and the get up crew give me that last one from 9 a.m jimmy please i do have to say this one thing because as much as i want to see him come back and play greeny and i think jason tatum is one of the the most elite players we have in the game of basketball. I'm not sure at his age it would serve him to rush coming back this season for a multitude of reasons. Number one, just it kind of disrupts the entire rhythm of the team. And by the way, it's not that he comes back in December or January, he's coming back in March, April. Like, that's when your team's hitting the best stride for who they are during the playoffs. And then secondly, Alan, I'm curious to get your opinion on this, at some point, I just want you to be healthy long-term. Don't rush coming back at this stage. Okay, so stop. Let me just stop. I'm going to have you pick this up. But again, it's like you're talking like someone's making that decision with the team or the risking of health long term is up to the doctor. It's not a decision. No one's rushing. There's no rush. Either the doctor says yes or no. And if the doctor says yes, then it's up to the player to feel the same way. Would you trust the team doctor? That's fair. there's certainly the Celtics have had their history and a lot of teams have you bet so that's that's fair if it's not the team doctor it's your doctor correct the doctor whatever doctor you you trust and doesn't have to be the team doctor probably shouldn't be the team doctor come to think of it fair enough if your doctor the person you've hired deems that you are healthy to return and you're not risking injury no one's making any decision the doctor says yes or no and then the decision is you do you feel physically comfortable are you pain-free do you have the have you clear the mental hurdle of i'm not going to risk further damage then there's no there's no decision what is what what decision are you talking about i hear this all the time should the team bring him back it's not really a decision that the doctor says yes or no and then the player goes along with it or doesn't there's no one's making the decision other than those two entities as far as i'm concerned. Jimmy, now pick it up, please. At some point, I just want you to be healthy long-term. Don't rush coming back at this stage if it can jeopardize an injury again because you deal with soft tissues and things at this level of basketball. He's too important to the franchise and the future of the franchise, right? As a star, as a player who, when he is healthy, starting next season with Jalen Brown, and what they've been able to do to reset that franchise financially without tanking, by the way. You have a chance to be a contender, be a true champion next season. This year, I agree with you. It would, to me, ratchet up expectations unnecessarily just because of who he is, and it might be unfair to put him in that situation where if they don't win, maybe he's blamed. That is the worst reason of all. That's the most ridiculous reason of all of them. They're all ridiculous. But this one, you've got to be kidding me. Don't come back because people would expect too much, and if you don't deliver, you might get blamed. Right. Who can't? Talk about, oh, so don't play if you might get blamed if you lose? So this is the one I'm with Maz. This has to be coming from Tatum's people, because Celtics fans certainly wouldn't care if he came back and they flamed out or was like, you know. So first of all, he would get a break from everybody. Yeah, he would. As he should. but secondarily even if he didn't even if he got blamed so what you're a max nba player you're expected to perform and if you don't you get criticized like that's a reason not to play that's insane it is insane look so now let's not come back because people are going to blame you if you lose did jay williams ever play in a team that won a title i don't know i'm asking just because i think it speaks to mentality like at the end of the day what are you playing for i I don't want to attack Jay Williams. He's an excellent analyst, and I'm not, this isn't about him. I'm just using it because it's what I heard this morning. I heard the same thing yesterday from Nick Wright, and if I kept watching late this morning and watched the Stephen Ace show, I bet you they're talking the same crap. Everyone's saying the same crap. All these reasons not to come back. There is no reason not to come back other than the doctor says no or you say no because of your health. anything else is ancillary crap and the fact that it's treated as a serious reason to play or not play to me is just i i it's so dumb that i have to think that they're ginning it up for his show but because if you're telling me the end this is how the nba actually works that guys will play or not play because of how it'll make them look or their shine as you said or interrupt this thing about your team my team so they're not going to play and lessen their chance to win a championship because of those things then why am i bothering with your sport mike but don't you do you think it's that far-fetched that there are people advising jason tatum on the business and corporation of course and it's him as a competitor to say f off well of course i'm gonna play yeah Yeah, but there's a lot of noise. But Jason Tame is every right to say, I don't feel comfortable on my Achilles. I feel it could pop. There's pain. I'm not confident that I'm not going to have a setback, and so I'm not coming back. And that's totally cool. But to not come back because your business advisor is saying, listen, Jason, if you come back and the expectations ramp up and then they fail, you're going to get blamed, and that's bad for your brand. I'm supposed to accept that as a legit reason? No one said you have to accept it. All we said is that it exists. Then I reject your sport and your league, if that's what you are. Okay, like, again, I'm not denying you that either. But I don't want to do that because I don't think these guys think that way. Yeah, I'm just telling you that I don't think it's fake. It's ginned up crap. He's going to come back. He's going to try hard. They'll probably come up short. But listen, he's coming back. I don't think it's made up just for the documentaries, all I'm saying. Or maybe it's made up because it's just what you defer to in the NBA with this crap, this nonsense drama. He's worked his ass off to come back, and they're in good position. He's going to come back. To reclaim his team from the guy who's taking it. And they're going to figure out all this nonsense. You hope. They're going to figure it out because they figured it out before, and they give a crap, and they're going to figure it out again. And then they won, so that's good. But now what's more important to them, their brands, winning an MVP, their whole thing, expanding their – they've gotten paid, getting a max contract, expanding their brand equity. Winning. Winning. Winning. Go with your gut. I'm going to ask you a question. In that league, if you polled – Oh, there's a lot of guys who roll like that, but I don't believe that about Tatum and Brown. I think they care about winning. Yep. And they also care about their brand. They've won. But I don't think they're putting their brand ahead of winning. They've won. But do you think right now what would be more important than back-to-back MVPs or winning another title? I think it's the first thing. I think most guys in that league, it's that. So that's – and listen, I understand what you're saying about Tatum and Brown. But, Mike, we have lots of evidence of guys in the NBA. And, in fact, even in other sports, not just the NBA, who, like, will not – you know, won't come back because they don't want to risk getting injured and they have, you know, endorsement deals or, you know – It just happened with Henderson and the Bengals. I think guys are soft. I think Jimmy Garoppolo is soft. I think, you know, David Pasternak is soft. Do you think Jason Tatum's confrontational? No. Okay, so if someone in his surrounding cast, okay, or someone in his, you know, Orbit. Yeah, Orbit. Thank you, Murray. That's the best word. Is saying to him, listen, we have business considerations to think about here. You don't think on some level he wants to please that person? Yeah, but I'm not going to say that he's not going to come back because of that. I know, but I'm just telling you that I think with a guy like him, it can rattle between his ears. Okay, so listen, here's what I think. I think he's coming back, and they're going to figure out all the crap. Because to think anything else is to disrespect them as professionals. And so anything short of that, like all this talk is disrespectful. Like you really think, you really think, Jay Williams, that Jason Tatum won't come back because of how it's going to make him look? Yes. Stop it. It's a Duke guy. Duke on Duke. Okay. I'm officially done. We'll talk to you right after. Jimmy gives you an update. Don't go anywhere. Hi, I'm Sean Flaherty, managing partner of Catcher's Law Group. At Catcher's Law, we're proud of our roots. For more than 40 years we been part of this community raising families cheering for the Patriots and fighting for our neighbors Being named the official law firm of the New England Patriots isn just an honor It a reflection of what we stand for Loyalty strength and community Whether you been hurt on the job or are suffering from years of physical wear and tear we are here for you Visit KetchesLaw.com or call us today to schedule your free consultation. This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to astound. Shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear. Reliable, affordable connection. So you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted. Because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. Under budget, full speed ahead. That's Astound. Gig Wi-Fi for $50 a month with a three-year price lock. Restrictions apply. See astound.com for details. Hey, it's Owen. Shaking things up a bit. No formal intro. Let's see what Carlo from Auburn has to say. The biggest thing that I received out of this Awaken 180 program was that I was able to get a best friend. And when I say that, I mean the person that I look to in the mirror every morning. I would walk by the mirror and not look. Now, the Awaken 180 program has given me the ability to look in the mirror, smile, and actually enjoy and appreciate the person I am. I went from, you know, 301 down to 213. I've lost 84 pounds with Awaken 180. 84 pounds and Carlo did it in just under four months. And those results, buddy, are the results you'll get with Awaken 180. Do what Carlo did, what I did, Greg Bedard, Dr. Laura Carman, and everybody else that's done it. Get back to liking the person you see in the mirror and choose Awaken 180 Weight Loss online at awaken180weightloss.com. Mike and Tony have a definite chemistry. Are they? 100%. Are they? Yes. 100%. Do I study? Do you consider them the periodic table of sports talk? Put that in your pipe and smoke. Sorry. We need to blow a gasp. No, no. Blow it, baby. Blow it. Belger and Maz. All right. To your phones here, as promised. How about John in Charlestown? Go ahead, John. Hi. Thanks for taking my call, Belger. I can't believe you're making this this complicated. Like, usually I think you're, like, speak from the heart. John, I'm not making it complicated. Everyone else is making it complicated. But go ahead. So let me just tell you. This is Jason Tatum's ego, pure and simple. And this guy, Missoula, who's a fake tough guy, yeah, he fights every day. Yeah, he bends over for Jason Tatum. Let me make the case for you. If Jason Tatum comes back, he's not coming on the starting line. No way. He's got to work his way. So who's got the gonads to bring Jason Tatum off the bench? And bring him off the bench. So move the sixth guy or move the last guy off the bench, make the first spot for Jason Tatum. Now Jason Tatum is coming off the bench. You think Jason Tatum's ego can handle coming off the bench if it's for the betterment of the team? Yes. I don't think so. I think that's what this is all about. And I think what you say – sorry, go ahead. What were you saying? No, I just like – so you don't think much of Jason Tatum then as a professional? I don't – I think he's soft as heck. I think he's got skills. I think he's got mad skills. I don't doubt that. But a professional? Yeah, I don't think very much of him as a professional. I really don't. Okay. I don't think he's got that Kobe in him. I really don't. I think it's all about getting papped. Who makes a five-part freaking series about recovering from an injury? I mean, can't you see the size of the freaking ego? I want to hear Murray say it one more time. Five-part series about an injury. Who does that? This guy is needy as heck, and that's what this is all about. Okay, John. It is gratuitous. I mean, it could be wrapped up in 30 minutes, Tops. I think it'd be hard-pressed to find a star player in that league that doesn't have an ego so the ego I accept in pro sports and the NBA to the point where you're not going to come back if you could come back and help your team try and win a championship your ego will prevent you from coming back John, you think way too little of Jason Tatum there's no way, he's coming back he's coming back and if he doesn't, it's because the doctor shut him down or he doesn't feel comfortable physically on his foot. It's not because of his ego. If he doesn't come back and play and try and win another championship because of his ego, then shame on him. And I don't feel that way about him. What about the part of Missoula? They want him to come off the bench to start. And could you see him at all being annoyed by that? Not to start, no. I mean, could I see it? That's a different way to put it. Yeah, I can see anything. He'll take it. He'll do it. No, he won't. Yes, he will. Coming off the bench to start? Yes. You're crazy. He will. You live on a different planet. Okay, even if he did it, do you think he'd be happy about it? So what? Okay, but that's not what I'm asking. I'm asking. It doesn't matter if he's happy. So this is what I'm talking about. Just because he'd be unhappy with coming off the bench, which he would be, or be unhappy if people blamed him, he'd take it. He'd still come back and play. Just because it would make you unhappy is not an excuse to not come back. Okay, but does the unhappiness at all reflect that, you know, he's not as professional as you think he is? Not really. I accept a certain amount of ego and competitiveness from these guys. So that to me is an acceptable level. To be annoyed or unhappy that I'm being asked to play second fiddle or come off the bench is fine. You can be annoyed and unhappy. You can't shut it down. It's the guy that shuts it down because of that is the loser. Jason Tatum's not a loser. He's coming back, and they're going to sift through all of that stuff because they give a crap. Just for statistical purposes, Jason Tatum, games played, 585. Games started, 585. He's not coming off the bench. Wow, he's never come off the bench. Including the playoffs, 121 games. Okay. 121 games started. He's not coming off the bench. And he never will. So, you know, if he's worried about his brand and how people view him, giving up the starting streak would be a good place to start absolutely it would be yes and this is where this is not about me it's about us what's best that i come off the bench so i started 585 start that's that's gonna have to go by the wayside because nothing's more important than this year so we touched on this yesterday of the team yeah this part of it is incumbent upon tatum like if he doesn't want to start and like puts up a stink about it to the point where they do it and they don't want to and they're unhappy about it like i would say do the right thing but the starting thing is kind of silly too because you can start and not be the big like a lot of centers okay but mike we all know how it is in that league okay i know right we all do so again marcus smart didn't like coming off the bench for crying out loud didn't like coming off the bench when tatum was a rookie which i can understand why they're not happy with it to not play because of it okay right you're not now you're saying a whole different thing right but it is but it is something they have to navigate. That's the only point. They will navigate it. Okay. And look, I agree that if it becomes an issue, that's a bad sign. They will navigate it. But it would serve Tatum well to embrace it. And it would help his image to embrace it. I agree. Eric in Providence, your thoughts on this? I'm just talking pure basketball. Look at the schedule. When they play Detroit, Denver, or New York, they lose. they need Tatum back period it's real simple it's the best players win in the NBA they need toughness in those series Tatum's not tough well Jimmy so there's like you wouldn't bring back your best player because I'm not bringing Tatum back this season I'm sorry it changes the complexity of what the Celtics have done this year so okay I know you hate that answer but they played better and more at the pace of what the league is right now with Jalen Brown leading the offense not Jason Tatum so they're better without Jason Tatum right now they are yes if he's ready you bring him there Maybe long term because of this Achilles injury. I remember. I don't believe that either, but you're entitled to that opinion. This happened with Bird once. There was something with Bird where they were talking about bringing him back, and they said they might be better without him. And I thought, who the hell believes that? Stop it. It was a take I had in 88. We found the tape. He actually did say. Yeah, right. Joe in Providence. Go, Joe. Okay, that's better hold music than most, I would say. just because we're hot on this. Jerry and Marble had just jumped on. Go ahead, Jerry. Hey, yeah. Of course he's not going to be happy, but he's a professional. He goes out and tries to play every night, which is why he's busting his ass to get back now. So, of course he wants to play. And what should be most important to him is if he comes back and they win a championship by some miracle, not a miracle, if they do it, people are going to remember, oh, if he came back, they won a championship. That's going to be good for his legacy. I think that should be on his brain. If people understand the deal, that even if he comes back and looks bad, people aren't going to blame him. Certainly Celtics fans aren't. Like, he's good here no matter what he does. They don't blame anybody for anything. He's absolved. Exactly. So, like, you don't need to worry about Celtics fans, but even, like, the national image, they're going to understand he came back early from a major injury. What did you expect? Like, that's what he's going to get. Everybody knows that. But somehow now, like, that has just got to be fake. That's got to be fed to these analysts from his marketing people. See, we need something for him to overcome on episode four. But this is the part where I disagree with you, that it's made up. It's not made up in that world. That he would not come back because of how he would look? Correct. That's a legit consideration. For people around him. Yeah, if he's been brainwashed by him. For him. I think there are people in his ear that have him at least partially convinced of that. And if he allows them to carry the day, then shame on him. Okay, so right. And at the end of the day, I agree with that too. Like it's his decision. But do I think there were people around him telling him that and that it's confusing him? Yes, I do. I do. I think it happens all the time in sports with all these hangers on and agents and advisors and we run your corporation and here's what it'll mean for your image. At the core of the day, these guys play and they want to play and they want to win and they play. And that's what Tatum's going to do. But that doesn't mean he's not hearing it. Of course he's hearing it. And you'll see all of it in episode three. And he overcomes it. I am not. Like, you're trying to suck you into this bull crap. It's bull crap. Trust me. It's going to be heavily, prominently featured in the stupid show. They need an arc. They need a storyline. They need adversity and doubt to overcome. And they just made it up. And you're all falling into it. I hope they put you in the story for believing in Jason Tatum from day one. They should. Nobody's falling into it. We're just telling you that people are in his ear. And everyone's in everyone's ear. At the end of the day, players play. Most of them. That's how they're wired. That's how they grew up. That's how you were wired and grew up. You're trying to project this, what you want on NBA players. Long commercial-free segment is not commercial-free. There's a quick word here from our sponsor because Jimmy made us go so late, and then we pick it up at the top of the hour. This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to astound, shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear, reliable, affordable connection, so you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. under budget, full speed ahead that's Astound Wi-Fi starting at $19.95 per month restrictions apply see astound.com for details