Boston forward Jayson Tatum will make his first appearance of the season Friday night against the Mavericks, less than 10 months after tearing his Achilles tendon during last May’s playoffs.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla said the organization never doubted a 2025-26 return once Tatum underwent surgery within 16 hours of the injury. “We always knew he was going to come back this year,” Mazzulla told reporters before tip-off.
Mazzulla initially said he did not know whether the five-time All-NBA selection would face a minutes limit, but ESPN’s Jorge Sedano later reported there would be no restriction. Analyst Michael Malone relayed the same information on the game broadcast.
Tatum will start, with rookie Baylor Scheierman moving to the bench, according to The Athletic.
Impact on Brown and offense
ESPN polled five insiders on how Tatum’s return could reshape Boston’s attack. Tatum has led the club in field-goal attempts for six straight seasons, while teammate Jaylen Brown owns the NBA’s second-highest usage rate this year. Observers noted that Tatum’s ability to draw defensive attention should bolster an offense that already ranks second league-wide.
Speculation that Brown should remain the primary option has resurfaced, but former Celtic Grant Williams dismissed the debate. “They’ve shown they can play with one another and they add to each other’s games,” Williams told The Athletic, adding that both stars are focused on winning rather than individual praise.
Walsh sidelined
Jordan Walsh will miss Friday’s contest because of an illness, the team announced. Boston holds a $2.4 million team option on the third-year forward for next season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
