Knicks on Jayson Tatum’s return: ‘You can’t be worrying about anyone else’

The New York Knicks know what the return of Jayson Tatum could mean in the Eastern Conference. They just are not losing sleep over it.

Tatum made his long-awaited return Friday night for the Boston Celtics after missing nearly 10 months with a torn Achilles. Boston entered the night second in the East, sitting just ahead of the Knicks in the standings.

But New York players insist their focus remains internal.

“You can’t be worrying about anyone else,” Karl-Anthony Towns said, via the Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “If we’re not executing and playing at a high level and being disciplined, it doesn’t matter who’s on the court. We’ll lose.”

In other words, the Knicks believe their biggest opponent is themselves.

That does not mean there is not respect for Tatum.

Jalen Brunson said he was simply happy to see the Celtics star healthy again after witnessing the injury firsthand in last year’s playoff series.

“You wish good health for everybody,” Brunson said. “Obviously you want to beat everybody you play against. But you don’t wish any negative on anybody.”

Brunson still remembers the moment well.

“He was torching us,” he said of Tatum’s 42-point performance before the injury last spring. “I thought he rolled his ankle at first. Then you could see it was much worse.”

Tatum’s return could complicate the Eastern playoff race. If the postseason began today, the Celtics and Knicks would once again be on track to meet in the second round.

New York won that matchup a year ago. This time, one of Boston’s two best players is back.