When Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Boston Celtics' second-round playoff series against the Knicks, it sent ripple effects around the NBA. Fans watched in horror, not because they knew it'd be hard to come back and beat the Knicks without Tatum, but because of the kind of setback it'd be for him.
It's been encouraging to hear about his progress, and it was fantastic to see him back on the court, shooting and jogging (!!). Tatum discussed how excited he was to do so, but fans shouldn't get too excited, as history shows that he'll likely miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season.
Boston is taking a "gap" year with Tatum sidelined, but given the state of the rest of the conference, the Celtics can still make noise in the East. That doesn't mean Tatum should rush back by any means, as the priority should be ensuring he's fully healthy before he returns.
Jayson Tatum gives another encouraging injury update
As devastating as Tatum's injury was, he was fortunate to undergo surgery immediately since he was in New York, which has greatly benefited his recovery process. It's unusual to see a player who has ruptured their Achilles back on the court, as Tatum is, so he could return to play in less than a year, which is a shorter recovery timeline than the typical year.
There is no clear return date for Tatum, as it's still too early. However, he did say that he knows his first game back will be at TD Garden in front of the fans who have uplifted and supported him throughout his recovery process. When that moment happens, the energy will be incredible. It'll be the kind of game that fans in the stands and at home reflect on forever.
It could be next season before that moment happens, and fans need to remember that, even though, after watching his latest YouTube video, it feels hard to believe that it could be that long before he plays again. Tatum has made an unbelievable recovery thus far, but the process isn't over yet.