Jayson Tatum has been open for his entire basketball career about the way he idolizes the late, great Kobe Bryant. And now, after the worst news of Tatum's career, that admiration comes into focus more than ever.

Jayson Tatum's torn Achilles tendon, without hyperbole, is among the most consequential injuries in NBA history. Kevin Durant comes to mind as a similarly gifted player to suffer such an injury, but he was almost 31 when he went down in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Tatum is expected to make a full recovery and no timetable was given for his return, but players who have suffered similar injuries are typically sidelined for nearly a season.