Jayson Tatum
Getty
Jayson Tatum is hoping to lead the Celtics on a Finals run once he returns to the court
All throughout the 2025-26 campaign, the Boston Celtics and their fans have been keeping close tabs on Jayson Tatum‘s injury status. After the superstar forward suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the team’s playoff series against the New York Knicks in May last year, the expectation was that he would miss the entire upcoming season.
And yet, Tatum has attacked his injury rehab over the past few months, and it has become increasingly clear recently that he is ready to return to the court. Sure enough, reports indicate that Tatum is expected to make his season debut on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks. And now that he’s set to be back in action, Tatum reportedly has high hopes for what Boston can accomplish throughout the remainder of the season.
Jayson Tatum Sets Sights on Finals Run with Celtics
After getting selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Tatum gradually turned himself into one of the best players in the league. Prior to this season, he had earned six-straight All-Star selections and four-straight All-NBA First Team honors. Tatum suffering such a serious injury in the prime of his career seemed like a potential death knell for a C’s team that appeared to be on the verge of becoming a dynasty.
Even without Tatum, though, Boston has remained one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season, as their 41-21 record is good for second place behind only the Detroit Pistons. Jaylen Brown has enjoyed an MVP-caliber campaign, and head coach Joe Mazzulla has managed to get the most out of every player on his roster.
Questions about Tatum’s return have simmered for weeks. While he appeared close to being fully healthy, some wondered how he would fit in on this team, which is currently being led by Brown. Plus, the team didn’t want Tatum to rush back into action if he wasn’t fully ready to play. However, he’s good to go now, and according to NBA insider Shams Charania, he’s made it clear that he’s looking to help Boston go on another Finals run this season.
“He has championship aspirations,” Charania said of Tatum on “SportsCenter.” “He has aspirations of contending and competing … Jayson Tatum is trying to come back late here this season to try to lift this team into championship contention.”
Could the Celtics Go on a Finals Run with Jayson Tatum?
Jayson Tatum, Celtics
GettyJayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics listens to a reporters question during Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Prior to his injury, Tatum was playing some of the best basketball of his career. He’s obviously not going to return and immediately be himself, as the Celtics are going to work on easing him back into the action. If he looks anything like his old self, though, there’s a case to be made that Boston is the most dangerous team in the East.
Assuming Tatum does play on Friday night, all eyes are going to be on Boston to see how it manages its franchise player. At this point, the main goal involves keeping Tatum healthy, but should that happen, the C’s could very well go on a deep playoff run this year. The Celtics will take the court for what has suddenly become a highly-anticipated matchup against the Dallas Mavericks at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday night.