Jayson Tatum, the star of the Boston Celtics, is concentrating on strengthening his physique and recovering from his damaged Achilles tendon. Initially, Tatum wants to make an appearance before the 2025-26 NBA season ends. However, the Celtics want to make sure that the star player is 100% ready before he returns to the lineup.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne gave an important update regarding Tatum’s potential return this season.
Thanks for the submission!
“I checked in with Jayson Tatum and he said, ‘I still have not made a decision on whether or not I am coming back this year.’” Shelburne said.
•
Shelburne also said that the Celtics are not putting any pressure on Tatum to return this season, which is why there is no timetable for the star. Whether he misses the entire campaign or not, the franchise wants the NBA star to focus on getting back to 100%.
The ESPN reporter also discussed the recent update from Tatum on X. The Celtics star highlighted that he’s reached the 40-week mark of his rehab process and expressed his appreciation for the work he’s put in.
“40 weeks 🙏🏽,” Tatum wrote. “I’ve really grown to appreciate this journey I’ve been on and allow time for me to pat myself on the back for showing up everyday!”
Tatum is making significant progress in his recovery. Before the 2026 All-Star Weekend, ESPN’s Shams Charania had an important update about the Celtics star. He was assigned to the team’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.
The six-time All-Star practiced in portions with the team, together with his teammates Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams. After the practice session, he was recalled by the Celtics to continue his rehab.
Bill Simmons predicts Jayson Tatum’s return game
Returning this season remains a possibility for Jayson Tatum. Bill Simmons, a lifelong Celtics fan, predicted when he believes Tatum would return, assuming he chooses to play this season.
According to Simmons, on Sunday’s episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” he thinks Tatum will play for the Celtics on March 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Celtics-Sixers on Sunday night, March 1st, moved from 6 to 8 PM,” Simmons said.
However, Simmons has a good reason why he thinks Tatum will return against the 76ers this season. According to him, he picked up hints from NBC during Sunday’s All-Star Game when the network previewed a documentary about the NBA star.
“Then randomly, during breaks between I think it was the third and the fourth [All-Star] game, a three-minute Jayson Tatum comeback … video about his journey set up in a way that made me super suspicious that NBC and him are working together in some way and this is all part of the thing.”
The Celtics and 76ers are slated to face each other on March 1. However, there isn’t any update on Tatum’s potential comeback.
Edited by Reign Amurao
