The Boston Celtics have been without Jayson Tatum on the court in 2025-26 (as expected), but JT has been nearby the entire time. As Tatum eyes a return before the end of the season, he’s been an active participant and observer on Boston’s bench during all of the Celts’ games so far, including road games. It’s not typical for a player with a long-term injury to travel with the team, nor is it expected, but Tatum isn’t your typical star. In a recent interview with CLNS Media’s Noa Dalzell, Tatum revealed one of the reasons why he’s been traveling with the Celtics — it helps his mental state. “Not being able to be out there with the team is already tough enough,” Tatum told Dalzell. “But still traveling and being with them during meetings and games and practices and shootarounds — trying to feel as much a part of the team as I can — it really helps my mental out a lot.” Jayson Tatum on why he’s traveling with the team: “Not being able to be out there with the team is already tough enough. But still traveling and being with them during meetings and games and practices and shootarounds — trying to feel as much a part of the team as I can — it… pic.twitter.com/CjpubBNO1B— Noa Dalzell ð (@NoaDalzell) October 30, 2025 Before his Achilles injury in last year’s postseason, Tatum had pulled off one of the most impressive runs of durability for a star player in recent NBA history. Everyone — even Boston’s rivals — are rooting for JT too return to full strength in the coming months and once again be the durable player he’s always been. Story continues below advertisement Tatum wanting to be involved in all of the team’s basketball activities shows how much he loves the game, and it shows how committed he is to winning. It’s been said before, but Boston is lucky to have a rare star like JT.