Jayson Tatum used his time on the bench to learn

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics poses for photos during Boston Celtics Media Day at Auerbach Center on September 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jayson Tatum spent last season learning, learning about different parts of basketball, seeing the game from a new perspective, understanding how coaches operate. He didn’t waste his time by sitting court side in all his outfits.

Boston, MA – March 1: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts from the bench in the second quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesDENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets talk after the game on February 25, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics talks after the game on February 22, 2026 at Cryto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty ImagesINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 03: Jayson Tatum attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics at Intuit Dome on January 03, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 26: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesBOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 3: A closeup shot of Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hat during the game against the Utah Jazz on November 3, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty ImagesBoston, MA – November 1: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum chats with Houston Rockets guard JD Davison after a game at TD Garden on November 1, 2025. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

At Celtics Media Day on Monday, Tatum talked about how he spent his time on the bench last season as he recovered from his torn Achilles injury.

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— Karan (@ksenguptaa) September 28, 2026

“Sitting next to the coaches for 65 some odd games (it was 62), it really gave me a chance to see the game through their lens and the things that they pay attention to,” Tatum said.

“Throughout every game, each coach is responsible for something different and it was just kinda cool to see and I learned a lot. I feel like the game slowed down for me even more so, just kinda seeing through their lens. How I can add that and translate that to my own play, when I am out there.”

Tatum did not miss many games last year, if any at all, and he did use that to his advantage going forward with the rest of his career.

The game really came to Tatum during his return last season and it did not go unnoticed by everyone.

On his podcast in March, Bill Simmons noted that the game had seemed to slow down for Tatum.

“I’d love for somebody to ask him, “‘do you feel like you’ve gained anything these four months just by watching basketball? Has anything slowed down for you? Has anything changed about how you think about when you are out there just from being a spectator?’ I felt like he was a little more patient than maybe he was even at his peak,” Simmons said on the March 9th edition of the Bill Simmons Podcast.

We all know how awesome Jayson Tatum is, but some parts of his game took a step up by sitting on the bench and seeing the game from a different perspective.

It was his rebounding that took the biggest leap in his return to the court. In a small sample size, Tatum was first in defensive rebounding percentage off of both field goal attempts and free throws. His improved rebounding could be credited to him seeing the game in a different way and seeing different angles to get rebounds.

As Brad Stevens said, you never have to worry about Jayson Tatum.

“He’s the last guy I lose sleep about, he’s the last guy I really ever worry about,” Stevens said. “I just expect that he’ll be great, he’ll be who he is… I have no doubt he will have a great year.”

Jayson Tatum spent most of last year seeing the game in a different light, learning different things about basketball. He showed some of that in his return and he will look to build on it this year.