The Boston Celtics are hopeful that they can challenge for the NBA Finals in 2026, and their expectations have increased after the franchise received a huge Jayson Tatum update on Friday.
Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks come to Boston Friday night, but all the attention will be on a Celtics star’s long-awaited return.
Advertisement
MORE: Former New York Knicks star exposes NBA for allegedly rigging games
The Celtics revealed that Jayson Tatum will make his 2025-26 season debut against Dallas at TD Garden. The Celtics forward suffered a torn Achilles nearly 10 months ago during the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks.
🚨 Celtics have announced that Jayson Tatum will make his season debut tonight after tearing his Achilles 10 months ago
THE ANOMALY IS BACK 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PcUZYOstI3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 6, 2026
However, Boston is regaining one of its most important players just in time for the stretch run of the regular season and the postseason.
Advertisement
The Celtics currently hold the second seed in the East, only trailing the Detroit Pistons by 4.5 games with a month to play. While seeding is certainly still on the table for Joe Mazzulla’s team, Boston will surely care more about Tatum’s postseason availability.
Tatum played a huge role for the Celtics during their 2024 NBA Finals win over the Dallas Mavericks. Last season’s postseason run for Boston was derailed by Tatum’s devastating injury.
Advertisement
MORE: NBA star Dillon Brooks arrested in Arizona, mugshot released
Meanwhile, the Mavericks recently received their own injury boost with Flagg’s return to the court. The former Duke star missed nine straight games before playing Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum talks with NBA reporters during media day at the Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Tatum has averaged over 23 points per game over the last six seasons, which gives the Celtics offense another massive lift alongside Jaylen Brown. This year, Brown firmly entered the NBA MVP race while shooting 48 percent from the field and averaging 28.9 points per game.
When healthy, the combination of Brown and Tatum is one of the best star-studded duos in the league.
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead—
NFL:5 most overrated NFL free agents hitting the market in 2026
MLB:What drug did Jurickson Profar take? MLB announces PED use
SPORTS MEDIA:Stephen A. Smith bashes underwhelming NBA star as ‘food addict’
VIRAL:NBC delivers epic nostalgia with ‘Throwback Tuesday’ NBA broadcast
WORLD CUP:Will Iran compete in the 2026 World Cup? Donald Trump weighs in
WNBA:Players, union leaders divided, claims letter from 2-time MVP and 4-time All-Star