The Boston Celtics (15-10) will reach the 2026 NBA Finals if Jayson Tatum joins the squad for a playoff run, predicts DeMarcus Cousins.
On Thursday’s episode of “Run it Back” on FanDuel TV, Cousins outlined why he trusts the Celtics over the other contenders in the East, and his optimism about their chances has only heightened since watching Tatum’s recent workout videos.
“From what I’ve seen [with Tatum’s progress], there’s definitely a chance he will return this season,” Cousins said. “It will change the entire trajectory of that Celtics season.”
“…We can all agree that if he did return, the Celtics would be the clear-cut [favorite] to come out of the East,” added the retired NBA All-Star.
Cousins, who endured an Achilles injury during his career, said it’s “night and day” in terms of where Tatum is in his recovery — less than seven months after his injury — compared to where he was on his journey back to the court.
Jayson Tatum Return Timeline
Per several beat writers covering the Celtics, Tatum is targeting a potential return in March, even though the 18-time NBA champions have not set a timeline for his comeback from an Achilles injury. Mazzulla made it clear this week that Tatum’s return is “up to him” and the Celtics won’t pressure him to return in time for a playoff run.
“It’s all up to him,” Mazzulla said of Tatum’s return.
“At the end of the day, health is the most important thing. His process is the most important thing. We trust him. Trust the team around him. We have a great team, and we’ll kind of just go from there. Kinda just all starts from where he and his team think he’s at. To me, the only thing I care about is his presence, his leadership.”
An Active Jayson Tatum
The six-time All-Star has also been widely praised by his teammates for being an active member of the roster throughout his recovery. That includes attending film sessions and locker-room meetings, as well as traveling with the team for away games. This wasn’t necessarily the case when other star players endured Achilles injuries in the past. Tyrese Haliburton, for example, is said to be away from the Indiana Pacers during his own recovery from the most devastating injury in pro basketball.
“He’s doing that in different ways. On the bench for games, communicating with guys in film session, traveling with us,” Mazzulla said of Tatum.
“At the end of the day, he’s on our team, a part of our team. He’s helping us get better, and everything else comes down to him and the people around him, and just trust that.”
The Celtics, who’ve won 10 of their last 13 games, have positioned themselves for a potential playoff run after starting the season with a 5-7 record. There were initially rumors that the C’s could tank the season for a high draft pick and resume their title pursuit with a fully healthy Jayson Tatum in 2026-27. It would appear they are definitely not going that route.
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