Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is not ruling out a return during the 2025-26 NBA campaign while he works back from Achilles surgery.
“I haven’t said I’m not playing this season,” the 27-year-old told ESPN’s First Take. “The most important thing is a full recovery, being 100 percent, not rushing it at all. But also, I don’t go to rehab six days a week for nothing.”
Tatum underwent surgery on May 13 to repair the torn tendon. Achilles injuries typically require about a year of recovery, yet Boston has not definitively ruled him out, unlike the Indiana Pacers, who have already announced guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss all of 2025-26 after sustaining a similar injury in June.
Early medical updates have been encouraging. Surgeon Dr. Martin O’Malley told People magazine that Tatum’s progress has been “remarkable,” noting the forward was performing double-heel rises within six to eight weeks. “I don’t think I’ve seen a person’s calf look as strong as his,” O’Malley said, adding he does not expect significant strength loss.
The Celtics’ medical staff will ultimately determine whether Tatum plays, and that decision could hinge on the team’s performance without its leading scorer. If Boston struggles after the All-Star break, there may be little incentive to accelerate his return.
Tatum plans to stay active with the group while he rehabs. “I’m going to be at practices and go to games and travel,” he said. “As frustrating as it’ll be to not be able to play, feeling like I’m a part of the team will help me out.”
Source: Hoops Wire
