Nick Wright sees another banner in the Boston Celtics' imminent future as Jayson Tatum makes his highly anticipated return.
Tatum is expected to play on Friday night for the first time since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon last May. He returns to a Celtics squad that's stayed in the hunt without him, seeding second in the Eastern Conference at 41-21.
A healthy Tatum makes Boston top contenders to seize a wide-open East, but Wright went one step further Thursday on FS1's "First Things First."
"I am picking the Boston Celtics to win the NBA championship," Wright declared. "Not just the Eastern Conference."
Tatum is returning with 20 games left in the regular season. The playoffs start on April 18, but Wright isn't too concerned about anyone upsetting Boston in the opening round.
"I believe the Boston Celtics, with Tatum coming back with this much time, I feel like he has two months before he needs to be 100 percent," Wright added. "And not meaning 100 percent of old Jayson Tatum, but 100 percent as far as however good he's going to be at this part of his rehab back. That's plenty of time."
The Celtics have defied expectations without Tatum, and they've even succeeded in seven games without MVP candidate Jaylen Brown. Wright feels Tatum puts them back atop the NBA hierarchy.
"They have been so impressive," Wright said. "Jaylen's been so good. They've been so good even without Jaylen this year, 6-1 without him. I think the Boston Celtics are going to win the championship with Jayson Tatum coming back."
Tatum is expected to play for Boston against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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