Tatum Leaves Door Open for 2025-26 Comeback After Achilles Tear
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Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum said Tuesday he has not ruled out playing this season while he works back from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in May during the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Appearing on ESPN’s “First Take,” the 27-year-old forward pushed back on the assumption that his recovery would sideline him for the entire 2025-26 campaign. “I haven’t said I’m not playing this season,” Tatum told the show.
The typical rehabilitation timetable for a torn Achilles extends through most of an NBA season, yet Boston has regularly posted social-media clips of Tatum lifting weights. In August, he attended a New York Patriots practice without a walking boot or brace.
Tatum emphasized that his priority is a complete recovery. “The most important thing is a full recovery, and I’m not rushing it at all,” he said. “But also, I don’t go to rehab six days a week for nothing.”
He added that he remains in frequent contact with fellow NBA players Damian Lillard, Dejounte Murray and Tyrese Haliburton, all of whom also suffered Achilles ruptures last season. “We’re all at different points in our recovery,” Tatum noted, saying the group regularly exchanges workout tips and progress updates.
Boston opens the regular season on Oct. 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.
Source: ESPN
