It might be time to get genuinely excited about the idea of Jayson Tatum returning sometime this season.
On Saturday, the Boston Celtics star used his YouTube channel to share a particularly encouraging update on his recovery from the Achilles tear he suffered last May. In the video, appropriately titled “Back On Court,” Tatum performs deadlifts in the weight room and runs through actual basketball drills at the Celtics’ practice facility.
“I’m rusty as a motherf—-r,” Tatum said in the video. “I’m working my tail off to get back, to get healthy for the love of the game.”
The video strongly suggests Tatum’s recovery is at least on schedule, if not ahead of it. That he’s able to run around on a court and shoot just four months removed from Achilles surgery is remarkable, to say the least.
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Still, it probably would be unwise to anticipate Tatum playing for the Celtics anytime in 2025. If he indeed plays this season, it likely wouldn’t be until sometime in early 2026 when the Celtics potentially are making a push for the NBA playoffs.
To that end, the Celtics might prevent Tatum from returning if they’re out of the playoff picture, a possibility given the state of their semi-rebuilding roster. Nevertheless, Tatum’s latest update gives Boston fans reason to dream about this season exceeding expectations.
Featured image via Winslow Townson/Imagn Images
