After the 2024 Championship win, the Boston Celtics are unable to find a stable ground. Last season, they slipped in the playoffs against the New York Knicks, also lost Jayson Tatum. The 27-year-old forward suffered a devastating Achilles injury during the playoffs. Normally, an injury similar to the one Tatum suffered takes at least a year to recover. So, many predicted that the former NBA champion wouldn’t be seeing the court during Boston’s upcoming campaign. However, JT is reportedly expected to make a return later this season. But the question is, should he?

Recently, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that, despite popular belief, the Cs haven’t ruled out Tatum’s return this season. To top it off, Tatum further sent the front office a message by making a dunk in practice. But given the magnitude of the injury that the forward suffered, is playing this season really the best decision for him and the franchise’s future? Well, Boston insiders Gary Tanguay and Jeff Goodman don’t think so.

While discussing a recent clip where Tatum is seen dunking already, Tanguay expressed his thoughts. “My guess is a year. Yeah, he could be ready. They’re in the hunt. Here’s the problem, and I agree with you. Sit out the whole year. I think we’re Why Tatum shouldn’t play this season, we all are on the same page,” he said. “But here’s the challenge. all of a sudden they get in the playoffs, maybe they’re in the 10th or 9th and they win the opening game or whatever and they find themselves in the second round and it’s May.”

Also, the question isn’t just limited to the regular season. Jeff Goodman emphasized that he shouldn’t play even if the Celtics make it to the playoffs. “Here’s what I’ll say. His mom, his agent are smart enough to tell Jayson Tatum, ‘It is not worth it. It is not worth it to go out there and blow out your Achilles again, and then you’re never going to be the same player if you do this twice,'” he suggested.

“So, yes, the player always wants to get out there as quickly as possible. I get it. They should. They should. They don’t want to see it if they think they can play, but they also don’t understand.” Goodman urged the six-time All-Star’s team and his closest ones to advise him against trying to rush his recovery just to play a handful of games this season. More so because, given that, despite Joe Mazzulla and others stating otherwise, Boston is most likely not going to make a deep playoff run.

So, the risk-to-reward ratio for the former Duke sensation will be quite high and definitely not worth another major setback. Now, will this advice prompt Jayson Tatum to change his plans and solely focus on completing his rehab? That’s something only time will tell. Nonetheless, it’s not just Jeff Goodman and Gary Tanguay who share this thought about Tatum’s recovery timelines; even the Cs head coach Joe Mazzulla thinks similarly.

Joe Mazzulla reveals his thoughts about Jayson Tatum’s return timeline

The Boston Celtics’ preseason is in full swing with the 2024 NBA champions playing their opening exhibition game against the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors. After winning against the Grizzlies, the Cs lost the battle 107-105 to the Raptors, which was the least of anyone’s concern after the matchup. That’s because when Joe Mazzulla addressed the media, everyone wanted to know about Tatum’s recovery and his return timeline after the clip of him dunking during practice went viral.

So, what did the Cs head coach say? Well, he answered the questions in typical Joe Mazzulla fashion. “That stuff will take care of itself,” he said. “The thing that’s important to me is he’s here with us constantly practicing, at film sessions, at practice, and he’s getting better in that regard as well.” The championship-winning coach emphasized that rather than his being able to dunk, he’s more impressed with the fact that Tatum is continuously with the team at practice and film sessions.

Mazzulla’s statement indicated that he doesn’t want to rush Tatum’s recovery. On the contrary, he wants him to take as much time as he wants, but make a solid comeback. In fact, this is something even JT himself attested to on media day, as he suggested that he’s under no pressure from the coaching staff or the front office to make an early return. Nonetheless, it will be worth monitoring what new updates emerge as Jayson Tatum continues his rehab and the new season approaches.