Jayson Tatum isn’t only a star on the basketball court—he’s also got a strong opinion when it comes to hip-hop. The Boston Celtics forward recently revealed his personal top five rappers during his appearance on All the Smoke, the podcast hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
“Jay-Z is the greatest ever, he’s the GOAT,” Tatum explained. “Drake is my number two. He’s my favorite, but Hov stands above everyone.” He followed that by slotting in Lil Wayne at number three. “Those three, they’re untouchable,” he added.
Tatum didn’t stop there. He rounded out his list with The Notorious B.I.G. at number four and showed hometown pride by putting St. Louis legend Nelly at number five. “You got to,” he said when Jackson backed the choice. “Country Grammar went diamond.”
Recovery from a Season-Ending Injury
Tatum also opened up about his rehab journey following the Achilles tendon tear he suffered in last season’s playoff series against the New York Knicks. The injury occurred in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, forcing him into surgery soon after.
“Rehab is brutal,” Tatum admitted in a video shared by the NBA on X. “I’m doing it six days a week. I’m starting to feel a little better. I’m finally out of the boot. Just trying to stay patient and resilient.”
The clip showed the Celtics star training in a pool and lifting light weights as part of the recovery process. “Those first six weeks were the toughest I’ve ever gone through in my life,” he revealed. “Now, it’s all about doing everything I can to return to the player I was.”
No Timeline Yet
As for when he’ll be back on the floor, Boston president of basketball operations Brad Stevens urged caution. “We’re not putting a timeline on this,” Stevens told reporters after the NBA Draft. “He’s making real progress, but this has to be about long-term health. When he returns, it’ll be because he’s fully ready.”
For now, Tatum remains focused on the daily grind of rehab, while Celtics fans wait for the day he can lace up again.
