While the injury shouldn't derail Tatum's career, it does give the Celtics a major obstacle to overcome. Boston has been to the conference finals five times and has had a pair of NBA Finals appearances—including a win last year—since 2017. Much of that success, especially over the past five or so years, has been largely due to Tatum.

If one event can dramatically alter even the most sustainable team-building strategy, is it even possible to maintain a championship window?

Los Angeles Lakers fans are very familiar with this injury. It's the same injury that Kobe Bryant suffered back in the 2013 season, also late in the season. Tatum idolized Bryant growing up, calling him his favorite player as a kid. Now that he has suffered the same injury as his idol, fans have compared the two getting the same injury.