Celtics’ Jayson Tatum still weighing possible return this season
celtics-jayson-tatum-still-weighing-return
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has not committed to playing at any point during the current NBA season, according to comments relayed by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Speaking on an NBA on ESPN segment, Shelburne said the All-Star has set no timetable and is facing no internal pressure from the organization to rush his comeback.
Tatum, 25, continues to rehabilitate the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Team officials have characterized the process as a long-term recovery rather than a push toward an immediate return.
Speculation about his status spiked last week after the Celtics’ March 1 home matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers was shifted from a 6 p.m. to an 8 p.m. tipoff and picked up by NBC, a change first noted by Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. The schedule move prompted online chatter that Tatum might target that date, though no plans have been confirmed.
Medical professionals continue to advise patience. Dr. George Theodore of Massachusetts General Hospital told MassLive that Achilles injuries are “devastating” and often involve lengthy physical and mental hurdles. Regaining full confidence in the leg, he said, can require as much time as the rehabilitation itself.
For now, Boston is signaling it will allow Tatum to decide when—if at all—he feels ready to return this season. Until then, any projected date remains speculative.
Source: Hoops Wire
