All-Star forward Jayson Tatum is likely to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during the 2025 playoffs. With this in mind, the Boston Celtics are prepared if Tatum won’t suit up for the entire year. However, the forward has shown significant progress in his recovery and there’s a chance that he’d be back on the floor before the season ends.
This is the first major injury that Tatum has suffered in his career. Since entering the league in 2017, the star forward has remained healthy and would often recover quickly whenever he would sustain a minor setback. With his new injury, however, the former Duke star knows that he cannot rush his return on the floor.
Still, he’s made considerable progress in his road to recovery. NBA insider Chris Haynes spoke about an update on the 27-year-old forward and hinted that he could make his debut before the regular season ends.
Haynes spoke about Jayson Tatum’s recovery on Wednesday’s episode of NBA TV.
“Based off of what he texted me, I think we will see him at some point during the regular season,” Haynes said.
“He told me he’s working out three times per week—45-minute sessions—he’s 23 weeks out from when he underwent surgery. He’s feeling good. He posted a video of him being able to explode off that leg. I asked him, ‘You’re really trying to come back this season?’ Basically, he was like, ‘I’m not putting all of this work in for nothing.’”
“I think we will see him at some point during the regular season.” 👀@ChrisBHaynes gives an update on Jayson Tatum’s progress on The Association. pic.twitter.com/nRdk7a86fZ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 23, 2025
While it would be amazing for Tatum to return to the court this year, the Celtics want to make sure that their star player recovers well.
The Celtics’ CEO doesn’t want Jayson Tatum to rush his return
Jayson Tatum is focused on making sure his body is 100% before he returns to the court. The fans and the media have been impressed with his work towards a potential recovery this season. However, Celtics’ CEO, Wyc Grousbeck, doesn’t want the star player to rush anything.
“We’re not gonna ever ask him to come back. We’re assuming he’s not coming back. And we’re not even gonna have any discussions about it. If at the end of — at some point he’s gonna be ready to come back, whenever that is, we’ll get five doctor’s opinions,” Grousbeck said during his guest appearance at Boston’s radio station, WEEI.
“I’ll never bet against Jason Tatum, but nor will he be asked by the Celtics to come back early. That’s not gonna happen.”
Having Tatum return this season would be amazing for the Celtics. However, his health is the priority.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
