Boston Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum has undergone surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon, officially ending his 2025 playoff campaign and potentially his 2025-26 season as well, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. It’s the kind of catastrophic injury that doesn’t just end a season but sends shockwaves through an entire franchise.
The injury occurred late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, a contest the Celtics lost to fall behind 3–1 in the series. As Tatum went down, grabbing his lower leg in visible pain, fans inside Madison Square Garden went silent. And now, what Celtics fans feared most has been realized: Boston’s title hopes are not just on life support, they’re dead.
Tatum, just 27, has been the cornerstone of the Celtics’ modern-day identity. Since entering the NBA in 2017, no player has logged more total games – 706 regular season and playoff contests combined.
His consistency and availability have been unmatched in the league. He has led Boston in total points, rebounds, and assists across the last two postseason runs, including during their championship run in 2024, where he carried the team to its first title since 2008.
This season, Tatum continued his dominance, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 34.4 percent from three. He led Boston to a 61–21 record, good for the second-best mark in the East.
A sixth consecutive All-Star selection and a likely fourth straight All-NBA First Team appearance were all but guaranteed. Now, all of it has been derailed.
And just like that, the Celtics’ dynasty hopes are shattered. Ownership had hoped to keep this core intact with one more title push after diving deep into luxury tax territory. But with a potential second straight title now gone and Tatum’s long-term availability in question, that vision has likely collapsed.
Tatum’s $314 million supermax extension is set to kick in next season. With this injury, he is expected to miss all of 2025–26, meaning he may not return until fall 2026 at the earliest, and even then, there’s no telling how he’ll recover.
Achilles injuries have derailed stars in the past, and while medical advancements have improved outcomes, this remains one of basketball’s most feared setbacks.
The franchise will now face major offseason decisions, with financial pressure rising fast. The Celtics could move on from key veterans like Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and others.
Keeping a $500 million payroll intact without their franchise star makes no sense. This may signal the end of what once looked like a modern-day dynasty in the making.
The Knicks, now up 3–1, are likely to finish the job. For Boston, there’s no sugarcoating the situation: the dream is over. What began as a season of title defense and historic aspirations has ended in heartbreak and possibly a rebuild.
Recover well, Jayson Tatum. The NBA isn’t the same without you.
