The Jayson Tatum comeback buzz is real. The latest on-court update was that he practiced with the Maine Celtics, the team’s G League affiliate back on Feb. 9. However, the recent speculation comes from a flexed NBC primetime game against the 76ers on March 1. Plus, NBC revealed it’s producing a series on Tatum’s comeback with behind-the-scenes, exclusive footage.
But ESPN insider Ramona Shelburne, in a segment on ESPN, said she spoke to Tatum for the latest update about a potential comeback.
“Look, I know everybody is seeing the game got flexed into the NBC spot on primetime,” Shelburne said. “That there’s a documentary that the NBC affiliate has been doing out there. They’re connecting dots. But I checked in with Jayson Tatum and he says, ‘I still have not made a decision on whether or not I am coming back this year.’
“What can we infer from that? I think he’s being truthful in saying that. But I also think he understands what he said before. He wants to get this right the first time. Nobody in Boston wants to put any pressure on Jayson Tatum. To put a date on this. To put a time on this."
Shelburne also mentioned that Tatum’s practice with the Maine Celtics was a big step, but he’s only scrimmaged once. So he still has a few more hurdles ahead of him before he’s back to playing NBA-level basketball. For what it’s worth, C’s teammate Ron Harper Jr. gave a positive Tatum update after practicing with him.
Others like Bill Simmons have predicted a return right around that March 1 date. Tatum said in the past that, whenever his comeback will be, it’ll at a home game at TD Garden. But there’s still nothing concrete from the team or Tatum in the meantime.
The Celtics are 35-19, good for second in the East, at the All-Star break. Returning Tatum would certainly be a big boost for one of the best teams in the conference. However, it’s unlikely Tatum will be back to himself to start as he rehabs from his ruptured Achilles tendon.