Jayson Tatum, Jayson Tatum return, Celtics
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Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second half of their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles,
NBA legend Lou Williams does not foresee any chemistry issues for the Boston Celtics when Jayson Tatum returns to the lineup from injury.
The three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year believes the Celtics — who have the second-best record in the league since the start of 2026 — will continue their winning ways when Tatum returns from his Achilles injury ahead of the playoffs.
“We’ve had this conversation once before and they won a championship,” Williams said on FanDuel TV’s “Run it Back” on the chatter of Celtics’ chemistry.
“The last time we talked about chemistry with the Boston Celtics, they went out and proved [everyone wrong]. This is what I love about them: despite all the outside noise, they’re just doing a great job of blocking it out.”
Run It Back
Lou Williams literally laughed at the idea that Jayson Tatum’s return could ruin the Celtics’ chemistry 😂💯
Whether it’s JT or Jaylen Brown, Boston will have two guys who can lead them to victory very soon…
Let’s not forget that this duo won a title the last time talk like
Jayson Tatum Return Date
The conversation about a possible issue with Celtics chemistry began when some analysts suggested that Jaylen Brown — in the middle of a career year — could be forced to take a backseat to Tatum. However, Williams doesn’t foresee any such issues.
“Jaylen Brown knows, ‘Hey, I can lead the team to victories.’ Jayson Tatum knows, ‘I can lead a team to victories,'” Williams said.
“They do it as a collective. They just go out there and put out the best product on the floor that they possibly can,” the retired guard said of the Celtics.
For what it’s worth, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons believes Tatum could make his comeback on Friday, March 6, when the Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks.
“Tatum, it feels like it’s going to be Friday in Dallas. That’s what all signs are pointing to, Friday in Dallas,” Simmons said during a recent episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”
“I was wondering if it would be this weekend, but by Friday. I think it was not going to be this weekend.”
Celtics Keep Winning
Elsewhere, ESPN’s Celtics injury page may have accidentally leaked the Jayson Tatum return date by setting his “estimated” return date at March 16, the day when the C’s host the Phoenix Suns at the TD Garden.
Even without Tatum, the Celtics remain a formidable team, with Joe Mazzulla’s team ranking second in WIN% (.724), second in offensive rating (119.3), fifth in defensive rating (108.6) and second in net rating (10.7) since the start of 2026.
NBA legend Jamal Crawford believes the Celtics might still be favorites to win the East even if Jayson Tatum doesn’t return this season.
“I think the Celtics, the way they’re playing, may be the favorites to win the East, whether he does or does not come back,” Crawford told NBA.com last week.
“I don’t think anybody predicted they would be number two in the East with Tatum sidelined. Jaylen Brown is a true MVP candidate, Coach Mazzulla deserves Coach of the Year consideration, and how hard they play defense will always give them a chance, no matter who they play.”