Jayson Tatum continues to be resilient in his recovery from a torn Achilles as the possibility of him returning to the court this season for the Boston Celtics keeps growing.
As the NBA superstar makes strides in his rehab, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green shared his stance on whether Tatum should return this season.
Draymond Green’s Injury Take on Jayson Tatum
The news that Tatum tore his Achilles during Game 4 of the 2025 East Semifinals series between the Celtics and the New York Knicks rocked the sports world. He was having a big game as Boston trailed 2-1 in the series, but the injury in the fourth quarter took him out for the remainder of not just the series but for the entire playoffs as well.
Tatum immediately underwent surgery on his Achilles, which may have accelerated his recovery process and helped him return to the court more quickly. Videos of him continue to pop up on social media that show him making significant progress in his movement while putting a lot of power on the rehabbing Achilles.
Green gave his thoughts on the possibility of Tatum’s return this season during an episode of The Draymond Green Show. He expressed full support in the Celtics star coming back as long as he passes all the tests and is fully healthy, recognizing the work he’s put in to get to this point.
“If Jayson Tatum’s healthy, I don’t think you put him in harm’s way. But I think if he’s healthy and he passes all the tests and he’s ready to go, you don’t make him stay out either just because everybody else is more comfortable with that,” Green said on his podcast.
“He’s put the work in. He’s working his a** off. If he’s worked his a** off that much to put himself in a position to play, you absolutely do that, because I think the East is wide open.”
What Lies Ahead for Celtics Amid Tatum’s Achilles Rehab?
The Celtics have remained resilient despite Tatum’s absence while dealing with a significantly different roster from past seasons. However, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have stepped up to keep the squad firmly in the playoff picture.
Boston has a 16-11 record on the season, sitting at fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic while being under the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks.
The Celtics will gear up for their upcoming matchup, which will be on the road. They face the Raptors on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. ET. After that, they return home to host the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
