Jayson Tatum expected to return to Celtics months after Achilles surgery

The forward was listed as questionable on the Celtics’ injury report Thursday SportUS SportJayson Tatum expected to return to Celtics months after Achilles surgeryThe forward was listed as questionable on the Celtics’ injury report ThursdayKyle Hightower Thursday 05 March 2026 21:00 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverWill Jayson Tatum Play This Season? Insights &ampamp; OddsYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreBoston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is poised for an anticipated return to NBA action, nine months after suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon during last season's playoffs. The forward was listed as questionable on the Celtics’ injury report Thursday, ahead of Friday night’s home game against the Dallas Mavericks.This marks the first time this season Tatum has not been designated as sidelined and undergoing rehabilitation for the injury, which occurred in Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the New York Knicks last May. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens previously stated Tatum would only be cleared when both physically and mentally prepared, suggesting that moment may now have arrived.Tatum was injured during playoffs last May (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)Tatum also has previously indicated that his return to the court would be a home game. The Celtics (41-21) have 20 games remaining in the regular season, including 11 at TD Garden. Boston is currently in second place in the East standings.“I didn’t come back to be no role player, Doc,” Tatum said weeks after the surgery to his physician during a checkup that was chronicled in the recently released documentary “The Quiet Work,” which followed his rehab process.When Tatum was injured last season, his thoughts quickly pivoted away from the devastation he felt for himself and what would soon be the end of his team’s bid to repeat as NBA champions.He made the decision quickly to begin the process of turning the page and opted to have surgery the very next day.The typical rehabilitation window to return to basketball action following Achilles tendon surgery is between 9 and 12 months.If he indeed plays on Friday, the 28-year-old Tatum, who had surgery on May 13, will make his return to the court after 298 days.That’s not far beyond the recovery time it took for Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins to recover from his Achilles tendon rupture. Wilkins returned at age 33 after 283 days to play in the 1992-93 season. He went on to appear in 71 regular-season games that year, averaging 29.9 points per game and being named to the All-Star team.Tatum’s childhood idol, Kobe Bryant, made it back to the court after about eight months, but was hampered by subsequent injuries.Tatum is in the first season of the five-year, $314 million extension he signed in 2024. He celebrated his 28th birthday on Tuesday.While Tatum has been rehabbing six days per week since surgery, the decision of whether he’d return this season hasn’t been a foregone conclusion.Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton and Portland Trail Blazers player Damian Lillard were both ruled out for the entire 2025-26 NBA season after also suffering torn Achilles tendon injuries during the 2025 playoffs. Lillard, who was with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, went down in their first-round loss to Indiana. Haliburton was injured in Game 7 of Indiana’s NBA Finals loss to Oklahoma City.But Tatum has been on a steady ramp up since beginning his rehab and has had no known setbacks. He’s remained a fixture around the team and has been traveling on road trips while continuing his workouts.After going through a full practice with the Celtics’ G League team three weeks ago, Tatum said he hadn’t yet made a decision of whether he’d return.“It doesn’t mean that I’m coming back or I’m not, it’s just following the plan. So it’s just another step,” Tatum said at the time. “I don’t know percentage. I just know I feel a little bit better everyday. I just try to focus on that.”Tatum said in the same interview that he is also mindful of not wanting to disrupt the progress of a Celtics team that i