BOSTON — Jayson Tatum is on the comeback trail, and he hit a huge milestone this week. The six-time All-Star practiced with the Maine Celtics on Monday, getting in live reps. The buzz is real even if it’s still unclear if he’ll be back this season.
Tatum clarified some of his recent comments that he made on “The Pivot Podcast.” He spoke about some of the doubts he had rejoining the Celtics — especially as they’re one of the best teams in the East. He wondered aloud how his return would look for a team midway through its season. Tatum spoke to the media Tuesday at the Auerbach Center for the first time since media day back in late-September.
“Over 39 weeks, you have a lot of time on your hands,” Tatum said. “You think about a lot of things, and you’re just hyper-aware of what’s going on. And I think it would just stem from that. Obviously, I know what I bring to the table and bring to the team, but I’m also aware that these guys have been playing extremely well. And not to say that I would come and mess it up or anything like that. It was just kind of being vulnerable, I guess, for a moment, and talking from that perspective.”
In the meantime, the Celtics keep winning games. They’re 34-19, tied for the second-best record in the East. It’s why Tatum had some apprehension on coming back to the team. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have been huge parts of the team, so Tatum pondered how he would fit into the puzzle.
Tatum didn’t commit either way on whether he’ll be back on the parquet later this season. Practicing is a positive step, but there are still physical and mental hurdles ahead for the Celtics star. There was a recent report that Tatum is reevaluating his comeback plans, and it sounds like there still isn’t a firm decision either way.
“It was good to be a part of practice yesterday with the Maine G League guys,” Tatum said. “(Tuesday) is 39 weeks, so it’s been a long journey. And it’s just like the progression of rehab. It was the next step. Doesn’t mean that I’m coming back or I’m not. It’s just following the plan. So it’s just another step.”
Of course, a Tatum return would give Boston a massive boost. The C’s shored up their front-court depth by trading for Nikola Vucevic at the deadline. But they had to give up Anfernee Simons, the reserve guard who was having a great season. If Tatum is back in the lineup, he’d be a big part in picking up the scoring slack once again.
But those discussions sound like they’re still for the future. For now, C’s fans can be excited knowing Tatum continues to clear milestones in his lengthy rehab process.
“These are like my brothers,” Tatum said. “I know I’m injured and not playing, but I’d like to think I’m still very much part of the team. When you’re out and injured you can feel isolated because you’re not playing. So just being around, encouraging them and being around as much as possible is good for me and my spirits.”