On Tuesday, Celtics’ prominent forward Jayson Tatum informed journalists that he was “feeling well” after 39 weeks of recuperation from an Achilles tendon tear that prematurely concluded his 2024-25 season.
However, he refrained from revealing if he would participate in games for the Celtics during the current season.
“I am in good health. It was beneficial to join the Maine G-League squad for practice yesterday. Today marks 39 weeks, indicating a prolonged period of recovery,” Tatum stated, according to reports from Celtics journalist Noa Dalzell.
He further elaborated: “This aligns with the typical rehabilitation process. … It neither confirms nor denies my return to play.”
Tatum’s remarks came after a Sunday disclosure by ESPN’s Shams Charania, detailing that the athlete, who has achieved All-Star status six times, had been engaging in organized 5-on-5 practice sessions alongside coaches.
The club also temporarily dispatched Tatum to their G League branch in Maine on Monday for a portion of a practice session. Subsequent to this practice, he went back to Boston to proceed with his rehabilitation efforts.
Tatum remains in the process of recuperation following the Achilles tendon issue he sustained last May during an Eastern Conference semifinals match-up against the New York Knicks. He must fulfill additional requirements in his recovery regimen. On January 29, NBA insider Chris Haynes conveyed that Tatum is contemplating remaining sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
Charania conveyed that Tatum’s objective is to return performing at nearly his full capability. During the previous season, Tatum achieved an average of 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.
A contributing factor to Tatum’s hesitancy to rejoin the team stems from the Celtics’ strong performance in his absence. With a record of 34-19, the Celtics are currently in close contention with the New York Knicks for the second position in the Eastern Conference standings.
On the Pivot Podcast, Tatum expressed: “This is a matter I consider daily. Primarily regarding the squad, should I return this season, they would have completed approximately 50 games without me. Consequently, they’ve established their own character this year, with elements they believe have harmonized effectively, leading to success, positioning them as the second or third team in the East thus far. Therefore, a question arises in my mind: ‘How would that function, or what would it entail, for me to rejoin after an injury, 50 to 60 games into the season?’ There could undeniably be complications, and the question persists: ‘Should I return, or would it be better to defer?’ This is a topic I’ve genuinely been pondering constantly over the past couple of weeks.”
Jaylen Brown is concurrently experiencing a standout season, marking a career-best performance. His statistical averages include 29.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Brown recently earned his fifth selection to the All-Star Game roster.
Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have similarly elevated their point production, as both guards are now contributing over 17 points per contest. Furthermore, the club secured center Nikola Vučević via a trade deadline transaction involving the Chicago Bulls.
