Derrick White's latest Jayson Tatum statement couldn't be more perfect

It’s now been over eight months since Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon at Madison Square Garden. He underwent surgery to repair the rupture almost immediately, which gave him and his family hope that he’d be able to return to action in eight to nine months.

The Boston Celtics star’s rehab process has been a long and tumultuous one, documented by Tatum’s insights and video clips on social media.

Tatum began sharing clips of on-court work towards the end of 2025, which, of course, excited many Celtics fans.

The 27-year-old made an appearance at Monday’s shootaround ahead of Boston’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons. Reporters in the gym shared plenty of footage of Tatum’s workout, including multiple clips of him throwing down explosive dunks.

Tatum is getting closer, but still not quite ready to get back to action

It was the first time in a while that the community had seen any new progress in his journey back to full strength. They’re not the only ones who are excited, either. Derrick White, Tatum’s teammate and good friend, shared what it’s been like to see the St. Louis native’s progress after months of hard work.

“It’s been amazing to see,” White told reporters in Detroit, via Bobby Krivitsky. “All the work he’s put in, and we’ve just gotten to see him be around more. It’s exciting to see, as a friend. Every day, he’s been working hard. It’s good to see all that hard work add some more movement and more opportunities.”

Tatum, though unable to contribute on the court, has still shown up for his teammates at every opportunity. Any fan who’s tuned into a game this season could easily spot JT on Boston’s bench supporting the Cs.

According to White, his presence alone can be a difference maker.

“Even when you’re struggling, he’s there supporting you and picking you up, and having a guy like that around is always impactful.”

Though each ensuing update on Tatum’s progress drums up more and more hype, there’s still been no indication of when he’ll actually be back. He sure looks like he’s getting close, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

The Celtics’ medical staff still has to make the final call. Plus, there are many aspects, like feel for the game, that can’t be measured just by seeing Tatum go through some workouts. Alas, there’s still about three months until the end of the regular season, leaving plenty of time for JT to check all of the necessary boxes required for him to safely return to Boston’s lineup.