Jayson Tatum's longtime skills coach Drew Hanlen appeared on The Kevin O'Connor Show on Wednesday to discuss all things NBA, but Tatum's potential return was the first order of business to discuss.
O'Connor jokingly asked Hanlen to provide an exact return date for the Boston Celtics superstar, at which point Hanlen took the time to clear the air about whether or not anyone actually knows if and when JT will step back on an NBA floor in 2025-26.
Hanlen emphasized that there is no set date, nor has there ever been, and that Tatum's rehab is such that it involves a step-by-step process, making it illogical to plan for the future before the next step has been completed.
40 weeks🙏🏽
I’ve really grown to appreciate this journey I’ve been on and allow time for me to pat myself on the back for showing up everyday!
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) February 17, 2026
Hanlen also reiterated that there haven't ever been any setbacks in Tatum's rehab progression. Some fans speculated that something had gone wrong when JT came out recently and spoke candidly about his doubts for a return this season.
Hanlen shot down that theory.
The takeaway here is that Tatum hasn't told Hanlen (or perhaps anyone in his inner circle) about a targeted return date, even if there have been private discussions about a potential timeframe.
Hanlen also talked about Tatum's recovery as another sign that the sports medical profession has improved to the point that an Achilles injury is no longer necessarily career-altering.
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