Jayson Tatum
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 12: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates a basket against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
A new medical assessment has injected fresh optimism into the Boston Celtics’ outlook, following a significant update on Jayson Tatum’s recovery from Achilles surgery.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Tatum has progressed to five-on-five scrimmages with coaches, a meaningful milestone as he works his way back from the torn Achilles he suffered last May.
The development immediately sparked discussion around whether a return this season is realistic — and according to a leading sports medicine expert, the answer is yes.
Orthopedic Specialist: Jayson Tatum Return ‘Totally Realistic’
Dr. Nirav Pandya, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco and director of sports medicine at Benioff Children’s Hospital, said the timeline now aligns with a potential in-season return.
“Somewhere between nine to 12 months post-surgery is totally realistic,” Dr. Pandya wrote on X in response to Charania’s report. “The variability comes from how an athlete performs during on-court work due to the extended time away — strength, agility, explosiveness and confidence — as the Achilles is structurally healed.”
Tatum underwent surgery in mid-May, placing him squarely within that window as the Celtics approach the final stretch of the regular season.
Rehab Progress Accelerates, But Key Boxes Remain
Charania emphasized that while Tatum’s progress has been aggressive, several hurdles remain before a return can be considered.
“There are more boxes for Jayson Tatum to check,” Charania said on NBA Countdown. “He’s got to practice with the team, of course. There’s also the normal nerves of coming back from an injury of this magnitude — a torn Achilles — to a team that has aspirations of advancing in the playoffs.”
Charania added that Tatum has been clear with people around him about how he wants to return.
“He wants to come back as close to Jayson Tatum as possible,” Charania said. “Not a shell of himself. Not a lesser percentage of himself. And the Celtics medical staff will have to clear him 100 percent, and he will have to feel complete confidence and trust in that leg.”
Celtics Feel Impact of Tatum’s Absence in Loss to Knicks
The update came on a night when Boston again felt the absence of its franchise star.
The Celtics fell 111–89 to the New York Knicks on Sunday at TD Garden, dropping Boston into a tie with New York for second place in the Eastern Conference at 34-19. The Celtics now trail the conference-leading Detroit Pistons by five games with roughly two months remaining before the playoffs.
Boston struggled offensively, shooting 37% from the field and making just two three-pointers in the second half, its lowest second-half total since November.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points in 33 minutes, while Derrick White added 19 points. Still, the offense lacked the late-clock creation and shot gravity that Tatum routinely provides.
Celtics Balancing Patience and Playoff Urgency
The Celtics have remained publicly cautious throughout Tatum’s rehab, mindful of the long-term risks associated with rushing an Achilles recovery — an injury that historically requires extended timelines. Kevin Durant, for example, did not return to NBA action until roughly 18 months after suffering the same injury during the 2019 Finals.
Yet Tatum’s progression into controlled five-on-five work signals that Boston is entering a critical evaluation phase.
As the Celtics navigate a tightening Eastern Conference race, the possibility — not the promise — of Tatum’s return now looms larger. And while no timeline has been set, the latest medical update suggests that Boston’s season may still have an unfinished chapter left to write.