Reporting surrounding Jayson Tatum’s potential 2025-26 debut is heating up. The Boston Celtics did not rule out their superstar forward, despite him tearing his Achilles tendon on May 12, 2025.
Reports suggest Tatum could return to the court and give his team a major lift as they head down the stretch of the regular season.
Jayson Tatum Eyeing 2025-26 Regular Season Return
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons revealed the latest encouraging news surrounding Tatum’s recovery timeline. “I had been hearing first week of March for a while… my money would be on March 1st now for him,” stated Simmons.
“I had been hearing first week of March for a while… my money would be on March 1st now for him.”
– @BillSimmons on Jayson Tatum return
(h/t @ClutchPoints) pic.twitter.com/BFpYnATPT8
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) February 16, 2026
This positive news comes weeks after NBA on Prime’s Chris Haynes said Tatum could change his mind about a potential return. “League sources just informed me right now that Jayson Tatum is re-evaluating his situation, and it is up in the air if he’s going to return, at all, this season,” announced Haynes on Jan. 28. However, it seems Tatum re-assessed his situation since this report.
A potential March 1 return would mark a 10-month recovery timeline. This falls within Bass Medical Group’s 9-12 month range. Tatum would likely play on a strict minutes restriction and sit out one half of back-to-backs for several weeks before playing over 30 minutes per game.
The Celtics assigned their six-time All-Star to their G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, to practice with the team on Feb. 9. Tatum scrimmaged in a full-court, 5-on-5 setting for the first time since his injury.
“Today is 39 weeks (since the injury), so it’s been a long journey … And it’s just the progression of rehab, the next step. Doesn’t mean that I’m coming back or I’m not. We’re just following the plan. It was just another step,” Tatum told the media.
MORE: Stephen A. Smith Blames LeBron James For Ruining the NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Neither the Celtics nor Tatum provided a clear answer regarding his potential return. However, it certainly looks like Tatum will try his hardest to help his squad this season.
The Celtics hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record. Many thought it would struggle without Tatum, but the Celtics proved many people wrong. Jaylen Brown, who averages a career-high 29.3 points per game, turned into an MVP candidate. Instead of tanking for a high draft pick in a loaded 2026 NCAA freshman class, the Celtics continued their dominance.
Tatum’s shot creation would help the Celtics tremendously in the playoffs, but he would not play close to 100%. His return could have adverse effects on the team’s chemistry, despite his superstar status.
