The Celtics‘ recent hot streak of 10 wins in 12 games has vaulted the team back into the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, currently at No. 3. With injuries and underperformance having knocked teams like the Magic and Cavaliers downward, the Celtics stand in pretty good position to remain in the East’s Top 3, or at least in that neighborhood.
That’s where the wild dreams for what once appeared to be a lost season really begin. Not only has Boston gotten a career-defining performance from star guard Jaylen Brown, but Payton Pritchard has continued to grow and Derrick White has located his shot again. Role players like Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta have found their strides and there’s every reason to think that the Celtics can continue their current run of success.
If they’re primed to be near the top of the conference come late April, when the NBA playoffs get underway, the possibility lingers that perhaps–maybe, maybe–star forward Jayson Tatum could be healthy enough to make his return to the court and fuel a run back to the NBA Finals.
Celtics, Jayson Tatum Will Wait Until He’s 100%
Tatum has been out since May 12 with a torn Achilles tendon, and conventional wisdom holds that he will remain out for the year, let the injury heal, build his strength back up, then return to the court for the Celtics in 2026-27. That’s the Celtics plan. That’s Tatum’s plan. For now, at least.
Back in training camp, Tatum said he was having a pressure-free rehab: “No pressure. No pressure to return back any sooner than when I’m 100% healthy. No pressure from Brad (Stevens), Joe (Mazzulla), the team, the organization. The most important thing is that I’m 100% recovered and healthy whenever I do come back.”
Still, Tatum keeps dropping hints that he is feeling especially good lately, and that has fueled speculation that he could return early if the Celtics are in a good playoff position. This week, Tatum posted an image of himself on Instagram with the caption, “Soon.”
Jayson Tatum Warned Against Early Return
Ah, but soon could just as likely mean October 2026 as April 2026. ESPN’s Vince Goodwill did, though, identify Tatum and a potential 10-month comeback as one of the “wildcards” affecting this NBA season.
But, like most around the league, the hope was that Tatum won’t push his comeback. Goodwill spoke to an anonymous assistant coach who warned, “I think he should sit this one out.”
Another anonymous executive told Goodwill that the challenge of not only coming back from an Achilles rupture, but doing so in the playoffs, is just too much even for Tatum.
The GM said: “The tough thing about this is, he’s coming off such a serious injury. You can’t expect the Tatum we’ve seen over the last several years. If he comes back in April, how much can he play to get the confidence to get a playoff feel? … They’d be dangerous, but that’s a lot to ask. You’re going from zero to 100, when the grind is its thickest.”
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