What a Jayson Tatum comeback could mean for the Celtics
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Jayson Tatum has spent the season watching the Celtics. That could soon change. Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images
The Celtics look like a contender as the NBA playoffs near, but speculation is rampant about a player who has yet to lace up: six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum.
Why it matters: Many thought Tatum would miss this entire season after tearing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs last May. Instead, it appears increasingly likely he'll be back for the Celts' 2026 postseason push.
- Meanwhile, the team has flourished in his absence, led by fellow superstar Jaylen Brown, who's a contender for league MVP.
Driving the news: ESPN's Shams Charania recently reported that Tatum has been "full-go" in scrimmages during the team's current road trip.
- Speculation about the star's return to the court had already been running wild, but Charania's reporting suggests it might be imminent.
The intrigue: Could that mean this week? Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer and a high-profile lifelong Celtics fan, thinks so.
- "It feels like it's going to be Friday. ... All signs are pointing to Friday," Simmons said during Monday's episode of his podcast, referring to the Celtics' home game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Friction point: With the Celtics rolling at 41-20 and No. 2 in the Eastern Conference, some wonder if incorporating Tatum would prove challenging so close to the postseason.
- Brown is having his best season, and Boston has reshaped itself in his image — driving to the basket more aggressively and fighting for rebounds and second-chance points.
What they're saying: "Ain't come back to be no role player, doc," Tatum says in the latest episode of The Quiet Work, a documentary chronicling his recovery from the Achilles rupture.
- Translation: When Tatum comes back, he expects to be what he was before the injury — a leading man.
What's next: Tatum has said he wants to return in front of a home crowd. The Celtics host the Hornets tonight, then Dallas on Friday.
- The team is next at home on March 14.
- The playoffs start in mid-April and the Celtics will have their eyes on another title, hopefully with Tatum back in superstar form.