With Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum expected to make his season debut on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, the sports world is reacting with awe to Tatum's relatively speedy recovery from an Achilles rupture on May 12, 2025.
In particular, NBA fans are pointing out that Kevin Durant took much longer (18 months) to return from his own, 2019 Achilles tear.
Tatum's quick recovery has even worried a segment of fans who are fearful that he's coming back too early.
NBA analyst Myron Medcalf posted a take on Thursday that might ease Celtics fans' concerns in that regard. Medcalf pointed to NBA legend Dominique Wilkins returning from an Achilles tear in the 1990s on a shorter timeline than Tatum.
"Jayson Tatum, if he plays on Friday: 298 days after tearing his Achilles," Medcalf wrote. "Dominique Wilkins (1992): Returned 283 days after rupturing his Achilles and contrary to the theme about his post-injury career, he was immediately an MVP candidate who averaged 28.8 PPG in 1992-93."
Jayson Tatum, if he plays on Friday: 298 days after tearing his Achilles
Dominique Wilkins (1992): Returned 283 days after rupturing his Achilles and contrary to the theme about his post-injury career, he was immediately an MVP candidate who averaged 28.8 PPG in 1992-93. https://t.co/y9nSwAnuHU
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) March 5, 2026
Tatum, who turned 28 on March 3, will be joining a Celtics team that has gone 41-21 in his absence, holding things down with a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
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