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

Jayson Tatum examined constructive 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 characterize america within the Tokyo Olympics, his experience during the pandemic isn’t misplaced on him.

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

“I’ve discovered to not take issues as a right,” he stated, per Taylor Snow of NBA.com. “I believe within the local weather of the final 12 months and a half, simply realizing that not every little thing 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 technique 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 regular. In April, he advised ESPN’s Tim Bontemps he had to make use of an inhaler earlier than video games, one thing he never did earlier than his analysis.

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