All signs pointed to Jayson Tatum returning sometime this season from his Achilles injury. But a report from NBA insider Chris Haynes pumped the brakes on a Tatum comeback this year. Per Haynes, Tatum is “re-evaluating his situation” on if he plans to be back on the court in the near future.
Tatum dropped revealing hints about his thought process on a recent appearance on “The Pivot Podcast,” which was posted Tuesday. Tatum was asked how he felt about coming back to the Celtics midseason and what obstacles that could pose for the team.
“That’s something I contemplate every day,” Tatum said. “More so about the team. If or when I do come back this season, they would have played 50-something odd games without me. They have an identity this year or things that they’ve felt that has clicked for them and it’s been successful. Second team in the East, up to this point.
“There is a thought in my head, ‘How does that work?’ or ‘How does that look with me integrating myself off with injury and 50, 60 games into a season?’ Obviously, there could be some challenges. It is a thought like, ‘Damn, do I come back? Or should I wait?’ It’s something that honestly, recently, in the last two weeks or so just kind of contemplate every single day.”
It sounds like things are in flux, according to Haynes, noting “it is up in the air if he’s going to return at all this season.” Tatum also told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that he hasn’t made a decision either way because he “wants to get it right the first time, so it’s just a lot to think about.”
The Celtics are 47 games into the year and it’s late-January, so there’s still time. It’s been about 37 weeks since Tatum underwent surgery repairing his Achilles on May 13, 2025.
The reports are noteworthy on where Tatum’s head is at currently. His workout in front of media in metro Detroit last week had fans buzzing about what felt like an inevitable comeback.
The Celtics haven’t put a timetable on Tatum’s return, instead focusing on ensuring that he’s at 100% when he is back. There would be plenty of excitement about Tatum helping out the Celtics this season, but there are also a lot of benefits to delaying his return. He could get in a full offseason of rehab and be ready to go for next year.
As Tatum pointed out, the C’s have been successful with a 29-18 record, tied for second in the East. They have one of the best net ratings in the league with Jaylen Brown leading the way as an All-Star starter.
It is interesting to hear Tatum’s honest thoughts on how he would incorporate himself back onto a team. He’s never gone through that experience, instead getting to participate in training camp with the C’s every year of his career prior to the injury.
Tatum has spent plenty of time around the team in the meantime. He’s a consistent presence on the Celtics bench, home or away, as he’s still a big part of the team. It just remains to be seen if the All-Star will be back on the court this season.
“I was told there were a couple of factors of why he’s reached that point,” Haynes said. “But as of right now, that changes the whole landscape because Tatum even told me personally he was returning at some point. I was hearing he was getting close and league sources told me that the situation has changed.”