Questions surrounding Jayson Tatum’s return from a torn Achilles tendon have loomed over the Boston Celtics throughout the 2025-26 season. The team may be about to get the answer they don’t want.
Chris Haynes of Prime Video reported on Wednesday that an unspecified recent development has led the Celtics star to re-evaluate his situation and consider sitting out the entire season. Haynes added that he recently heard that Tatum’s return was “imminent,” but now his availability is “up in the air.”
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The news comes just a day after Tatum expressed reluctance to return at the end of the season on “The Pivot Podcast,” fearing it would destroy the chemistry the Celtics have built without him.
“It’s something I think about every day,” Tatum said. “More importantly, for the team, if or when I come back this season, they’re going to play 50-plus games without me. So they have an identity this year, or something that they feel is important to them, and so far, it’s been successful, right, third or second team in the East. So I have a thought in my head. So, how does that work, or what does it look like for me to come back from injury and play 50-60 games in a season? There could obviously be some challenges, like, damn, should I come back or should I wait? Honestly, I’ve been thinking about it every day for the last two weeks or so.”
Tatum tore his Achilles in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals, and his timetable for return has been vague since then. An Achilles tear is one of the most feared injuries in all of sports, but Tatum’s youthful performance at 27 years old and recent advances in treatment technology bring optimism to this season.
Tatum refused to rule out a return before the season and showed off some dunking ability in October, something the Celtics are reportedly cautiously optimistic about. Now, they may have to accept that All-NBA talent won’t walk through the door until the 2026-27 season.
Maybe it’s time to stop thinking about what Jayson Tatum can bring to the Celtics this season. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)
Despite Tatum’s absence, the Celtics are still one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The team is tied for second in the Eastern Conference with a 29-18 record, thanks to a career season from Jaylen Brown and strong contributions from a supporting cast including Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Neemiah Queta.
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Tatum has four seasons left on his five-year, $304 million contract with the Celtics.
