Jayson Tatum was not the only player to tear his Achilles tendon in the 2025 NBA playoffs, although he might be the only one who returns in time for next season. Both Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard have confirmed that they will take a year off to recover from the injury, although Tatum has not ruled out an early return, hoping he can lead the Boston Celtics to the playoffs.
Of course, most players take a calendar year to recover from such a devastating injury. The most famous exception is Kobe Bryant, who took eight months in 2013 to return.
Tatum has long cited Bryant as his biggest inspiration, so if he follows the same timeline, he should be back on the court by January.
GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 12: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on before a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the TD Garden on March 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Jayson Tatum Provides Promising Injury Update
Some fans might encourage Tatum to take the season off, recover fully, and then return to action during the 2026-27 season when Derrick White and Jaylen Brown are both still in their prime.
No matter when he returns, the Celtics should emerge as Eastern Conference contenders, and he seems to have his sights set on sometime this season, refusing to rule out a speedy recovery.
“For me and my team, the doctor, the organization, the most important thing is making the full recovery,” he explained during the September 23 episode of TODAY With Jenna and Friends. “I haven’t said like, ‘Yo, I’m not playing this season or anything like that.’”
Of course, if his recovery slows down or there is a high risk of reinjuring himself, fans can imagine that he will make the conservative choice and shut himself down for the season, although he has yet to make a definitive announcement.
“I have a goal in my mind,” Tatum added. “What I will say is I’m not working out, rehabbing six days a week for no reason.”
Boston Celtics Will Take a Step Back
If Tatum somehow returns to the court after the New Year, it stands to reason that it will take him several weeks to be back to full form. However, the Eastern Conference is weaker than ever, and behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks, Boston should be in the mix for a playoff spot.
If the Celtics can enter the postseason with a healthy Tatum, Brown, and White, they will be one of the hardest teams to beat, although with the departure of Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet, they won’t be the juggernaut that they have been for the last two seasons before Tatum’s injury.
While Tatum certainly can’t wait to get back to action, the Celtics likely won’t be true title contenders until 2027. By then, Tatum will be only 29 years old, one of the best players in the world, and Boston can pick up where it left off.
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