ESPN NBA insider Tim MacMahon delivered an optimistic update on Jayson Tatum's status on Wednesday, insisting that the Boston Celtics superstar's return is inevitable this season.
“A matter of when, not if,” MacMahon stated on Get Up regarding Tatum's timeline for rejoining the lineup.
“A matter of when, not if.”
—@BannedMacMahon on the timeline of Jayson Tatum’s pending return ☘️ pic.twitter.com/UXj4GZRb54
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 4, 2026
The Celtics continue to impress as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference without Tatum, who has missed the entire 2025-26 regular season while recovering from an Achilles injury suffered during last year's playoffs against the New York Knicks.
Of late, Tatum has made notable progress in his rehabilitation, advancing to full-contact 5-on-5 work with the team and showing no major setbacks.
The buzz around a potential debut as early as Friday night has only grown in recent days. However, with the Celtics finding success through their depth and chemistry, the organization remains committed to a cautious approach, allowing Tatum to dictate his readiness.
MacMahon's assessment aligns with the growing consensus that the six-time All-Star will contribute before the postseason begins.
During the 2024-25 season, Tatum continued displaying his franchise cornerstone ways for the Celtics. The now-28-year-old appeared in 72 regular-season games, posting averages of 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists while earning another berth on the All-NBA First Team.
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