Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles injury during the team’s postseason matchup with the New York Knicks, leading to their inevitable loss in the series. While an injury of this nature raises significant concerns for the future of the team, Celtics president Brad Stevens shared a positive update on the matter.
In attendance for the Celtics’ summer league game against the Knicks, Stevens joined the broadcast to share the news on Tatum’s recovery journey. He said:
“He seems to be doing really well. Rehabbing’s hard. Anyone who’s been through a long injury and a long recovery, it’s just a challenge. Mental challenge, physical challenge, obviously. But he got the surgery right away, and from that point on, his mindset was, ‘We’re going after this thing and trying to get better.'”
“He’s a competitor. He’s gonna compete in everything he does, including rehab. I’m really encouraged. I’ve basically seen him every day in Boston for the last 50 days. Usually, he goes away at the end of the season and then comes back, but he’s just stayed there and been doing his rehab. It’s been fun to spend time with him every day and just try to catch up and see how he’s doing as we watch him make the strides he needs to make.”
Tatum’s decision to undergo surgery shortly after being injured may have been the best course of action. Having potentially reduced the length of his recovery period, the Celtics are hopeful to see their star return in good health.
The injury sustained by the 27-year-old is traditionally catastrophic, and an increasingly common occurrence in recent seasons. Given the recovery period required for such injuries, Boston is expected to be without their primary superstar for the majority, if not the entirety, of next season.
This has created some issues for the team, as they have been forced to make some tough decisions regarding their roster to come under the second apron. While their commitment to Tatum has been an encouraging sight, parting ways with key rotation players such as Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, among others, has left the team severely shorthanded.
In light of this, the upcoming season doesn’t have much of a positive outlook for the Celtics. In what has effectively transformed into a gap year, Boston will continue with their salary cap management efforts as it hopes to sign talented players on relatively cap-friendly contracts.
With their sights set on the 2026 offseason, matching Tatum’s timeline for recovery, Boston will hope to make a splash by making some notable signings to become competitive again.
