May 12, 2025 — a day that lives in infamy for all Celtics fans. A day that saw franchise centerpiece Jayson Tatum crumple to the ground in agony after tearing his Achilles.
The game was in the fourth quarter. The clock read 2:58. Reliving that moment, even through words on a screen, is already enough torture for Bostonians.
Flash forward seven months to present day. Tatum’s recovery has been going about as well as anyone could have hoped. There have been no reported setbacks, and teammates and coaches have praised his continual dedication to the team despite not playing.
Various Celtics media outlets, as well as the six-time All-Star himself, have posted very encouraging videos of his progress. Recently, footage of Tatum playing one-on-one against a training staff member was released, generating significant excitement among the Celtics faithful.
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Stoking the fire are comments from Chris Haynes and Tatum’s teammate Jaylen Brown. Haynes reportedly told a Sirius XM radio show that Tatum definitively told Haynes he’s returning this season, although no official remark has been made from the NBA reporter. Brown brought up the notion of Tatum “breaking the record for fastest recovery in Achilles history.”
With the snowballing news updates on Tatum’s status, more and more Boston fans are discussing their want and likelihood of a Tatum return this season. While the yearning for their beloved generational talent is understandable it’s a risk that would not yield nearly the same level reward.
What History Has Shown Us
An Achilles rupture in the NBA is by no means a new injury. Since 1990, there have been over 40 players who have suffered an Achilles tear. They have proven to be one of the most difficult injuries to return from, especially when recovery times are brisk.
Take the late great Kobe Bryant as an example: Bryant, Tatum’s biggest idol, tore his Achilles in April of 2013 and miraculously returned in December of the following season. Unfortunately, the Mamba would only play in six games before fracturing his knee on the same leg. He missed the remainder of the year.
According to sports medicine, a recovering Achilles can limit ankle dorsiflexion, which in turn can put increased stress on the knee joint.
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Although commendable, Kobe’s quick return and subsequent injury makes for a solid argument: His Achilles was not healed enough, and it brought on further injury.
Also, in the games that the Laker legend did play after injury, his offensive output was severely diminished. He averaged just 13.8 points per game as opposed to his 27.3 the previous year, and his shooting percentage dropped from 46% to 42%.
Kevin Durant Took His Time
On the other hand, another NBA all-time great, Kevin Durant, also had the misfortune of a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2018. However, Durant’s recovery lasted over 500 days, or 18 months. In his first season back from injury, Durant averaged more points than he had in his last healthy season (26.9 to 26.4), and shot the ball better (54% to 52%). Essentially, Durant’s body thanked him for having a longer rehab process.
This is not to say Tatum should be out for 18 months like KD. Instead, it serves as an important reminder that with Achilles injuries, time is one of the biggest deciders in how a player will return.
What Those Close to Jayson Tatum Believe
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics have made no official statement on whether or not he will return this year, but neither have fully ruled it out.
“First thing, I haven’t said I’m not playing this season,” Tatum told Stephen A. Smith in September on First Take.
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As a player, it would be unfair to expect Tatum to say anything different. He is a proven champion and competitor, and his desire to return only speaks to his passion for the game. With that being said, the road back is perhaps longer than recent rehab videos of Tatum have let on.
According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, a source close to the team said that the team must check several more boxes before they have discussions of a return.
Blake Griffin, a former Celtic and friend of Tatum’s, has been helping No. 0 through his rehab. Griffin, who has had his fair share of injuries, understands the importance of giving the body time to heal.
“There’s a lot of information on Achilles and all other sorts of injuries…like, yes, you may be able to play within, call it 10 months,” he said. “But does 16 months give you a much better chance at not re-injuring and not injuring something else? And I think the data on that is very clear.”
Ultimately, whether or not Jayson Tatum logs minutes this season is a decision entirely up to him. While not there are differing opinions on what that decision should be, NBA fans can agree on one thing: We all want to see Tatum back on the court in his elite form that has been a privilege for all to witness.
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