Jayson Tatum is slowly working his way back from an Achilles injury, and he just hit a major milestone in his recovery. Speaking with USA TODAY’s Sports Seriously, the Celtics star said he completed his first on-court workout since going down, spending about 15 minutes getting comfortable again.
“Yesterday was the first time I went on the court and did a basketball workout,” said Tatum. “I was on the court for like 15 minutes. The goal is just getting more comfortable. I’ve been jogging, and the next is sprinting, and then it’ll be changing directions. So, just gradually getting my workouts to look how they used to when I was healthy.”
Tatum was at the peak of his powers when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. In the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game on 45.2% shooting. As an NBA champion, six-time All-Star, and five-time All-NBA player, he was the next in line to take the mantle from aging legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
Tatum’s Achilles tear in May not only derailed his season but also the entire short-term future of the Celtics. As Tatum endures what has been a rough recovery process, he won’t even see the floor until (at the earliest) spring 2026, which is still several months away.
In response to his absence, the Celtics traded away several key players (like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis) to save money and preserve flexibility in the future. As it stands, the Celtics know they cannot compete without their franchise superstar, and they’ve decided to concede this season to maximize their odds when Tatum returns.
At 27 years old, chances are good that JT will make a full recovery, but these types of injuries are impossible to predict. While some are never the same after an Achilles tear, others have gone on to thrive for years.
This summer, it’s no surprise that Tatum is looking to his peers for help with his rehab process. When he thought his career might be over, he listened to the wisdom of stars like Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton, and now it seems the worst of it is behind him.
Now that he’s back on the court and getting shots up, Tatum can begin the next process of his recovery and work to fully restore his game. While there’s still a lot of work to be done, Tatum is making fast progress, and it won’t be long before he’s preparing to rejoin his teammates back in the race for the title.
If he can just maintain his shooting and scoring, everything else will fall into place, and the Celtics can re-take their place atop the NBA hierarchy. For this upcoming season, however, Tatum’s only expectation is to get back to where he left off in the spring.
The process of recovery won’t happen overnight, but each step forward is a reason for optimism in Boston. If Tatum can make a full recovery and regain his All-NBA form, the Celtics will be right back in the title picture. For now, the focus is on patience and progress, and Tatum seems determined to get there.
