Jayson Tatum Reportedly A ‘Talking Point’ During All-Star Weekend

For the first time since 2019, Boston Celtics superstar forward Jayson Tatum is not an All-Star. And yet, even though he’s not out in Los Angeles, CA, with the rest of his talented peers, it sounds like Tatum remains the talk of the town.

After suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the playoffs last year, Tatum has spent the entire season to this point working on rehabbing from this injury. All signs point to Tatum being ahead of schedule, and the door has been left open for him to return at some point later in the regular season.

Whether or not Tatum will actually play this year remains to be seen, but folks around the league are beginning to prepare for his return. In fact, reports indicate that Tatum’s injury rehab has been one of the bigger talking points across the league during the NBA’s All-Star weekend.

“Out in California, Tatum was a talking point during interviews and, according to sources who’ve spoken to Heavy, among the players in less public settings,” Steve Bulpett reported.

The Eastern Conference is wide open this year, and with the C’s being the No. 2 seed currently, Tatum’s return could shake up the entire playoff field. If Tatum can get back on the court and play even remotely close to his All-NBA self, Boston’s ceiling rises significantly.

For now, the Celtics are preaching patience when it comes to Tatum’s potential return. But it’s clear that if he is able to get himself back on the court, which is looking more and more likely to happen, it could have a major impact on how the 2026 NBA Playoffs unfold.