The effects of COVID-19 hit the Boston Celtics All-Star striker Jayson Tatum a lot. Speaking to members of the media on Tuesday, Tatum explained how he has difficulty breathing normally during games since he was diagnosed with the virus earlier this year.
“I think it disturbs your breathing a little,” said Tatum, via ESPN. “I already tried some games where, I don’t mean [I was] struggling to breathe, but, you know, you get tired a lot faster than normal. Just running up and down the court a few times makes it easier to get winded or tired a lot faster. I realized that since I had COVID. It’s just something I’m working on. It has improved since the first game I played, but I still deal with it from time to time.
“And it’s not like every game in which I feel the whole game,” added Tatum. “It’s just a few stretches where breathing is a little out of the ordinary, and I talk to the medical team and the coaching staff about it. Obviously, it got better since the first game I came back and played … I think it’s just a process I talked to other guys who have been through this, and they say they experienced the same thing and it just gets better with time. But, as much as we play, I think it takes a little more time. ”
Tatum lost five games in January after a positive test for COVID-19, but he has played 11 games for the Celtics since returning to the active squad. The fact that he still feels the effects of the virus almost a month later shows the severity of the symptoms. Tatum is not the only player in the entire league scene who has struggled to return to full strength after a fight against the virus. Philadelphia 76ers shooter Seth Curry recently said something similar after his return to action on the court after a positive test earlier in the season.
“It’s been difficult,” said Curry. “I’m just trying to get my energy back. Some days I feel good, some days I’m just slow. It’s like I have to take a nap all day, so it’s weird, but I’m grateful to be able to get up and get on the court every day and play … It’s a work in progress. ”
The fact that elite athletes like Tatum and Curry are struggling to recover weeks after dealing with the virus is a scary sign when it comes to how debilitating symptoms can be. That’s exactly why the league has been overly cautious when it comes to postponing and rescheduling games this season, as it obviously wants to minimize the number of players that are potentially exposed. Hopefully, Tatum, Curry and others who have dealt with the virus are able to return to full form in no time.