In the 2025 playoffs, Celtics All-NBA PF Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles. His injury left Boston with tough decisions to make this past offseason.
The team parted ways with several pieces from the 2024 championship roster. Boston could not justify paying the tax to be above the second apron in a year where Tatum is unavailable. Through their first 26 games in 2025-26, the Celtics are 15-11. On Thursday, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Jayson Tatum told him he is “coming back this season.”
Jayson Tatum insists he will return in 2025-26 for the Celtics
“He told me he’s coming back this season.”
— @ChrisBHaynes on Jayson Tatum
(h/t @NBA__Courtside) pic.twitter.com/pRnXFr28XM
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 18, 2025
May 12, 2025, is when Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon. It was Game 4 of the East semi-finals vs. the Knicks. That was a massive blow to Boston’s chances in the 2025 playoffs and the 2025-26 regular season. Achilles injuries are difficult to return from. The recovery timeline is different for each player. Jayson Tatum’s idol growing up was the late great Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers’ Hall of Famer tore his Achilles in April 2013. Bryant returned just eight months later in December 2013. Celtics one-time NBA champion Jayson Tatum hopes to have a similar timeline. He tore his Achilles tendon on May 12, 2025. Eight months from that date is Janurary 12, 2026. Does Jayson Tatum have a chance to return shortly after the new year?
Brad Stevens said Jayson Tatum won’t be back until he’s “110%,” but he noted the Celtics didn’t apply for an injured player exemption for a reason. Doing so would have prevented Tatum from returning this season. pic.twitter.com/kScOIWhJBY
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) December 17, 2025
Recently, Brad Stevens gave an update on when Tatum will return. He said their superstar will not be back until he is “110%.” Stevens said the team did not apply for an injured player exception for a reason. If they had done that, Tatum would not have been eligible to return. That’s telling for the Celtics’ belief in Jayson Tatum playing in 2025-26.
On Friday, December 17, the Celtics will face the Miami Heat. Boston enters that game 15-11. That is 4th in the Eastern Conference. Even without Tatum on the court, the Celtics are competitive in the East. If Tatum returns for the final third of the year, the Celtics could be competing for an NBA title. Fans are patiently waiting for Tatum to fully recover and make his way back to the starting lineup.
