After the Boston Celtics wrapped up their shootaround at Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Michigan, on Monday, it was Jayson Tatum's turn to take the floor. The six-time All-Star went through an extensive, hour-long, on-court workout.
Tatum did so in front of the media. It was a progress report meant to send a clear message. If he can return this season, he intends to do so. He's not ready yet, but he showed enough during that workout to believe it's better to bet on him playing in the current campaign.
Jayson Tatum finishing with authority again. We’ve seen some powerful dunks from him today. https://t.co/I6llnde80S pic.twitter.com/3rTw2GrKxH
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) January 19, 2026
Many have maintained that belief for quite some time. Others, like Charles Barkley, are persuaded or at least have more conviction in the five-time All-NBA First Team selection returning this season based on Monday's hour-long session.
"I got a bad feeling that Jayson Tatum is coming back [this season]," said Barkley on Saturday night's edition of Inside the NBA.
While he clarified that it would be "great" to see Boston's star forward return this season, his concern stems from the fact that "Normally, when guys have an Achilles, they're out for a year. What I saw him doing last week, I was like, 'He's gonna come back this year.'"
An Achilles expert's opinion on Jayson Tatum's return
Dr. Kevin R. Stone is an orthopedic surgeon at The Stone Clinic. He is a leading expert in Achilles tendon repair. During an insightful conversation in December, he stated that it is "definitely realistic" for the 27-year-old forward to play as early as January.
Tatum has now passed the eight-month mark. Miami Heat guard Dru Smith came back in nine. He shed light on his road to recovery during a trip to Boston earlier in the current campaign.
Tatum's running out of time to return in January. It never felt like he would rejoin the lineup in the first month of 2026. As Brad Stevens detailed, the organization has boxes he needs to check before getting the green light.
However, this year's NBA All-Star Game is Feb. 15. It's at least possible he enters the fold shortly after that break. If he hasn't done so yet, the conversation will grow even louder in March. The St. Louis, Missouri, native shared before the season that his first game back will be at TD Garden. He also said he has a return date in mind.
The Celtics don't play on his birthday, Mar. 3. However, they will host the Charlotte Hornets a day later. Perhaps that is when Tatum will grace the parquet for the first time since his injury.
If Tatum returns with enough time to ramp up, he could be far from his pre-injury form and still help extend Boston's playoff run in a wide-open Eastern Conference.