Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum
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Many around the league are starting to think the Celtics can compete in the playoffs without Jayson Tatum.
Dating back to the start of the season, the Boston Celtics have been dubbed a “what if” contender in the Eastern Conference. However, given their success over the last four months, one Hall of Famer no longer sees them that way.
Heading into the 2026 campaign, the main talking point for the Celtics has been the absence of Jayson Tatum. After suffering an Achilles injury against the New York Knicks last postseason, he has been sidelined for an extended period. Though there remains optimism that the star forward will be back this year, a final decision has yet to be made.
Without the services of their star player, among other key departures in the offseason, many thought 2026 would be a gap year for the Celtics. Many expected them to plummet in the standings and maybe compete for a spot in the play-in tournament. In a shocking turn of events, they’ve managed to defy the odds and remain a prominent figure in the East.
Led by an MVP-level season from Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are poised to remain a threat with the playoffs just around the corner. Their 38-19 record is good for second place in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Detroit Pistons.
During an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show” February 24th, Indiana Pacers icon Reggie Miller gave his thoughts on Boston’s play thus far. The Hall of Fame guard believes they are capable of making noise in the playoffs even if Tatum doesn’t return in the coming weeks.
“I’m gonna say this,” Miller said. “With or without Tatum, even if Tatum doesn’t come back, the Celtics are the scariest team in the Eastern Conference. The reason being that there is no expectations, people thought this was gonna be a gap year without Tatum…The Celtics are a real threat to win the Eastern Conference.”
Dan Patrick Show
“With or without Tatum, even if Tatum doesn’t come back, the Celtics are the scariest team in the Eastern Conference.”
– Reggie Miller on the #Celtics – @Nutrafol
Kendrick Perkins Believes Celtics are Capable of Finals Run Without Jayson Tatum
Miller is far from the only person who has changed their tune regarding the Celtics amid their success this season. While he has some bias given his ties to the franchise, Kendrick Perkins also believes Boston has what it takes to come out of the East.
During the February 23rd installment of “First Take” on ESPN, the former champion also stated that Tatum’s potential return won’t make or break the Celtics’ chances of reaching the finals.
“They can go to the NBA Finals without Tatum,” Perkins said. “One, they one of the best coaches in the game in Joe Mazzulla. Number two, they have the best two-way player in the game in Jaylen Brown because no other player in the league is doing what he’s doing.”
Jayson Tatum Still on the Fence About Returning to Celtics This Season
The team’s success this season has certainly made the decision more appealing, but Tatum doesn’t appear to be swayed in either direction just yet. While he could possibly help Boston contend this postseason, coming back too soon could impact him and the Celtics negatively for years to come.
Back at the end of January, NBA insider Ramona Shelburne discussed chatted with Tatum about him returning this season. She reported that he hasn’t decided yet what to do and that the All-Star forward “wants to get it right the first time, so it’s just a lot to think about.”