Jayson Tatum Readying For First Olympics, Impressed By COVID-19 Battle

Jayson Tatum examined optimistic for COVID-19 in January, and the Boston Celtics star handled the consequences of the virus even after he returned to the court docket.

And as he prepares to signify the USA within the Tokyo Olympics, his experience during the pandemic isn’t misplaced on him.

Tatum stated his COVID-19 prognosis helped form the mindset he’s bringing with him to his first Olympic look.

“I’ve discovered to not take issues with no consideration,” he stated, per Taylor Snow of NBA.com. “I believe within the local weather of the final yr and a half, simply realizing that not all the things is promised, and also you by no means know what might or couldn’t occur. So I’m simply staying within the second and actually having fun with this journey, this strategy of being 23 and being within the Olympics. It’s an honor. It truly is a dream come true.”

Tatum missed 5 video games as a result of virus, and after he rejoined the squad he revealed he struggled with respiration points and felt extra fatigued than standard. In April, he informed ESPN’s Tim Bontemps he had to make use of an inhaler earlier than video games, one thing he never did earlier than his prognosis.

Whereas Tatum has put the virus behind him, the remainder of Crew USA hasn’t been as fortunate. Bradley Beal will miss the Olympics as a consequence of COVID-19, and Jerami Grant and Zach LaVine each went via stints in health and safety protocols however had been cleared to rejoin the workforce.