Jayson Tatum last played for the Boston Celtics 298 days ago, when his 42-point playoff masterpiece against the New York Knicks preceded what would become a nine-plus-month rehabilitation from a torn right Achilles tendon. Since then, he has worked to recover from surgery, regain strength, and progress through multiple 5-on-5 workouts in preparation for his long-awaited return.
The expectation is that Tatum could play Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported that the six-time All-Star is “ready to go.”
Boston played its first 62 games without Tatum, while also adjusting to several key offseason departures, including Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. Despite that, Boston has held its own, going 41–21 to sit second in the Eastern Conference with the fourth-best record in the NBA. Their offensive rating ranks second at 119.9, trailing only the Denver Nuggets, they’ve had the stingiest defense over the last fifteen games with a 106.1 defensive rating, and their 12.2 turnovers per game are the fewest in the league.
No matter what hurdles the inevitability of an NBA season has thrown their way, the Celtics have not relinquished their standard.
Now, with Tatum presumably set to return at any moment for Boston, a recycled topic has resurfaced — one about as fresh as wearing a velour tracksuit in 2026: Tatum’s role. Where will he play? How will he contribute? Is there room for him on an ascending Celtics team led by co-star Jaylen Brown amid a career-best season?
None of these questions are new. Only the circumstances surrounding them are different. The conversation is still stale, and like cold movie-theater popcorn, it belongs on the floor — not to be picked up.
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 3: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics grabs a ball that went out of bounds during the second quarter of their game against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on November 3, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 3: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics grabs a ball that went out of bounds during the second quarter of their game against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on November 3, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
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There’s no immediate rush to get Tatum back — that’s the first point worth acknowledging. He’s returning from a career-threatening injury that raises questions about whether most athletes can play again, much less perform at their previous standard. No matter what Tatum’s minutes look like in his first 5–10 appearances, the focus won’t be on fitting in or carving out a new role. It will be on getting up to speed and regaining confidence in his strength to compete against NBA-level competition.
Brown has been the No. 1 option, and it’s been working — that’s fine. Expecting Tatum to jump back into the offense’s driver’s seat after nearly a year without an NBA game is absurd. Common sense dictates treating his comeback with as much caution as necessary, which will likely mean minutes restrictions at first and limit what he can do early on. That’s not a problem. Boston’s success in his absence proves it.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has completely redesigned his team’s offense to fit its circumstances. With no Tatum, several offseason departures, and the promotion of inexperienced players into larger roles, Boston couldn’t run its 2025–26 system the same way. Instead, Mazzulla and his staff developed a fresh, new scheme that allowed the roster to flourish. Neemias Queta, a first-time starting center, Hugo González, an impactful rookie, and Luka Garza, a veteran still finding his footing, have all been able to ascend in ways that would have been unimaginable during a typical Tatum-Brown season.
Queta has developed into a reliable starting center, deserving of keeping that role even after the Celtics acquired 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star Nikola Vučević at the trade deadline. González has left executives across the league rethinking their draft evaluations, delivering a two-way impact few rookies can match in their first year. And Garza has taken a notable step in his growth, providing serviceable minutes off the bench that resonate both on the court and with Boston’s home crowd. He’s even set a new career high in 3-pointers made (35) with 20 games left to play, eclipsing his previous mark of 16 set four seasons ago.
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 6: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 6, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 6: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 6, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Everything the Celtics have worked to accomplish — establishing their core values, mindset, and player development — has been to survive without Tatum. So far, they’ve done a sensational job, making Brown and Mazzulla legitimate MVP and Coach of the Year candidates, respectively. Teams across the league are clueless as to how Boston has made it work, avoiding the easy route of tanking for a lottery pick. But it’s because they’ve become such a well-oiled machine that Tatum’s role this season barely matters. To think that keeping him sidelined because of a role conflict somehow benefits the Celtics is senseless.
The point is simple: Tatum makes the Celtics — and every other team in the league — better. That has been true since he became a pro, leaving zero room for debate. Even if he can only give Boston 15 minutes against Dallas, it’s more than worth playing him for all 15, and not just as an experiment.
He played the role of a facilitator in the NBA Finals. He’s one of the best outside shooters in the league. Questioning Tatum’s ability to fit completely neglects his versatility.
Boston’s offense is already lethal as is. The team rarely makes mistakes, continues to knock down threes at an above-average rate, and finds ways to get everyone involved. It’s not always Brown, Payton Pritchard, or Derrick White doing the heavy lifting. Queta resembled a top-10 center against the Philadelphia 76ers, dropping 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 17 rebounds on Sunday. González scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while fearlessly guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. It’s March, and this is what has become normal for the Celtics and their unproven supporting cast.
They’ve reshaped their schemes and their expectations. The ceiling is no longer the Play-In Tournament or any specific win total. Now, it’s about competing with the East-leading Pistons and making a run at the No. 1 seed. It’s about coming out of the East and securing a second NBA Finals appearance in the last three years — and it’s not some Cinderella story. If the Celtics reach the Finals, it will be because they earned it the hard way.
Tatum has spent eight healthy seasons in Boston. He’s played alongside Brown since his rookie year, reaching five Eastern Conference Finals with his longtime partner. To suggest there’s any cause for concern about whether they can coexist for another title run — after winning a championship just two years ago — isn’t a valid debate; it’s simply lazy.