This offseason, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has been hard at work. Tatum was recently seen in the gym engaging in some strength training after the Celtics’ crushing season finale.

Tatum deadlifted 495 pounds as part of his regiment:

The Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum, had a terrible season in 2022-23. After falling behind 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, Boston won three straight games, including two in Miami, to tie the series and set up a Game 7 at home.

They deposited one egg when they arrived. Miami dominated Game 7 en route to the NBA Finals.

It’s worth noting that Tatum was hurt on the opening play of the game, twisting his ankle and making him ineffective for the rest of the game.

Still, that didn’t make the final result any easier to swallow for Celtics supporters.

This season, Boston will seek to return with a fury. The team recently signed guard Jaylen Brown to the highest contract in NBA history, and they also traded Marcus Smart for star big man Kristaps Porzingis, who is now ailing but should be ready for the season.

While Tatum and Brown aren’t always a perfect fit, they have arguably the most raw potential of any NBA pair. Tatum’s finishing at the rim has been one of his few flaws over the years, but his offseason muscle conditioning could pay rewards this season, especially when the playoffs arrive.