From one injured athlete to another, Jamahal Hill took a moment to write a few words of encouragement to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. After Tatum sustained the same injury Hill suffered a few years ago, it was a no-brainer for Hill to offer a pep talk as the NBA champion recovers from successful surgery.
Jamahal Hill Comments on Jayson Tatum’s Post
No matter how much was said, what mattered most was that Hill commented on Tatum’s post. Professional athletes live a life that few others understand — whether they play the same sport or not. The UFC and NBA aren’t comparable in many aspects, but Hill knew that taking just one minute to lift Tatum’s spirits could go a long way.
“It gets better. Take your time and recover, then unleash that wrath on everybody across from you!!!” Hill wrote.
Hill’s comment joined those from NBA stars Stephen Curry and Trae Young, along with actor Mark Wahlberg, who also showed support. For Hill, Tatum’s injury hit close to home — it came during a crucial time in the playoffs, similar to when Hill tore his Achilles just after winning the light heavyweight title.
With a 12-1 record at the time, Hill was forced to vacate his light heavyweight championship after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Surgery was required, and UFC President Dana White had no choice but to strip Hill of the title so the division wouldn’t be held up. Hill had just defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 to win the belt, vacating it just six months later.
Tatum and the Celtics captured the NBA championship last season — their first since 2008. As a six-time All-Star, Tatum was looking to lead the team to back-to-back titles in 2025. But his postseason was cut short, and the New York Knicks eliminated the Celtics in Game 6 of their series, the second game Tatum missed after his injury.
Hopefully for Tatum, Hill’s words will resonate. Hill tried to “unleash his wrath” when he returned to the octagon in April 2024, but was knocked out by Alex Pereira three minutes into the fight. It was Hill’s only bout of 2024, and his 2025 debut also ended in a knockout loss, this time in the third round to Jiri Prochazka.
While the timeline for Tatum’s return is unclear, being able to return to the level he was playing at prior to the injury is something all fans of basketball would be grateful to see.