Jayson Tatum opened the Celtics’ season with a 6‑of‑23 shooting performance against Detroit, attempting just one free throw. It is his first full season back from the 2025 Achilles tear and has already drawn scout scrutiny over his shooting mechanics.
A scout said the free‑throw number is the bigger concern, wondering if Tatum still has his burst and explosion. His free‑throw rate fell to .300 in 2024‑25 and was .275 in his 16 games back last year, down from a .399 peak in 2022‑23. Tatum posted just four dunks in those 16 return games, compared with over one per game before the injury. Kevin Durant’s .395 rate in his first Achilles‑recovery season is cited as a benchmark.
