Jayson Tatum is, in fact, “moving differently”. NBA athletes average about 10 months of recovery time after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. However, Tatum was back on the court in just a little more than 4 months. In his recent workout video, Tatum deadlifts heavy weights before hitting the court for drills that include dribbling, shooting, and running.  

“He looks like he’s going to be ready for opening night,” Jaylen Brown had joked. Miracle clip or not, most doubt a 2025-26 return, but Tatum’s betting on himself, with Shams Charania saying he’s targeting a late-season comeback.

“The Celtics have not ruled him (Jayson Tatum)out. I think the Celtics are cautiously optimistic. Jayson Tatum has a goal in mind that he wants to play now. Whether he can get there by the time we’re in February. March. April, we’ll see and we’ll see how that team is going to be. There are so many doctors’ clearances that come into play here.” Charania said on “The Pat McAfee Show”.

Charania mentioned that Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Tatum’s fellow Achilles rupture buddies, will both miss the 2025-26 campaign. However, Tatum was always considering a 2025-26 return. “I think for me and my team, the doctors, the organization, the most important thing is making the full recovery: Being back 100 percent, not rushing it,” Tatum said last month. “But I haven’t said like, ‘Yo, I’m not playing this season or anything like that.” 

Tatum will need to emulate Kobe Bryant. Late into the 2012-2013 season, Bryant infamously tore his Achilles. Within about eight months, Bryant was back in game action. However, his decline started immediately after this, something Tatum won’t hope to repeat. Bryant was 34 when his injury occurred, and Tatum is only 27, so that will likely not be an issue.

Because of Tatum’s injury, the Celtics were looking at a gap year. Boston has been shedding salary with Tatum sidelined in an effort to get under the luxury tax. After operating in the second apron, they have a chance to get under the luxury tax completely. The most expensive NBA squad offloaded Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņġis, Luke Kornet, Torrey Craig, and JD Davison. That was likely with the assumption that Tatum would not be coming back, but just the possibility of his return gives the Celtics reason to fight on.

Jayson Tatum’s Potential Return Makes Tanking a Nonstarter

There have been multiple voices in the NBA circles for the Celtics to just let 2025-26 go. “You’re not going to be good anyway, so just go ahead and go all in on being bad. Potentially put yourself into a lottery pick, and be potentially in the mix for drafting a Massachusetts kid in AJ Dybansta, so why not?” Caroline Fenton of Yahoo Sports said in early September. A Joe Mazzula team was never going to tank, but a light year was expected considering their thin roster. However, the potential return of Tatum changes things.

If he actually makes a recovery by the final quarter of the season, the Celtics will get a boost during that vital run before the playoffs. Even without Tatum, Boston’s perimeter punch remains intact. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard can go toe-to-toe with just about any trio in the league.

In Anfernee Simons, the Celtics boast one of basketball’s deadliest sixth men. Admittedly, their front court without Porzingis and Horford looks thin. In a long shot, one of the low-money bets like Luke Garza and Neemias Queta might work out. More importantly, Tatum himself wants to compete either way. They could also benefit from a volatile Eastern Conference, as their reigning champions lost their starting point guard in Haliburton. Along with that, the Pacers were dealt the second blow as Myles Turner ended up in Milwaukee. 

Jayson Tatum had explained, “The way our organization is ran, it’s the culture that we set, it’s the standard that we have — regardless of who is on our team — that we have to go out there every single night and play to that standard. That’s the Boston Celtics way. And that’s competing for championships.” The Celtics have the longest active playoff streak in the NBA, and many expect it to break this year. Tatum and Co. will be aiming to surprise everyone when their season starts at home on October 22 with a rivalry game against the Philadelphia 76ers.