Jayson Tatum has pulled off something few players ever manage. Just 10 months into rehab for a torn right Achilles tendon, the six-time All-Star is back on the court, once again leading his team from the front.
The Celtics’ star made his 2025–26 season debut on Friday, March 6, against the Dallas Mavericks. While it’s good news for the Celtics front office and players, no one seems more excited to see the franchise cornerstone return right before the playoffs than Jaylen Brown.
Jaylen Brown Praises Jayson Tatum for His Extraordinary Recovery
When Tatum was initially ruled out for the 2025–26 season, the general sentiment was that the Celtics would essentially endure a gap year. The expectation was that Boston would wait for its franchise cornerstone to return healthy before making another serious title push.
But the 2024 Finals MVP, Brown, had other plans. In Tatum’s absence, Brown stepped up in a big way, taking charge of the Celtics’ offense. He leads the team in scoring and has been a primary contributor to Boston’s impressive 42–21 record and second-place standing in the Eastern Conference.
Now the 2026 MVP candidate has Tatum back, and the Celtics suddenly look like a serious threat heading into the playoffs. Brown shared his thoughts on Tatum’s return during an appearance on the “Cousins” podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady:
Brown on Tatum: “First, I want to commend JT for even having the notion that he wants to come back. Him wanting to return is an unselfish act — putting his body on the line in order for us to accomplish something great. We’re both on the same page and had a good talk about the mindset we want to come back with and what we want to add to winning.”
Jaylen Brown was on “Cousins,” with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. The episode airs Tuesday.
Brown on Jayson Tatum: “First, I want to commend JT for even having the notion that he wants to come back. Him wanting to return is an unselfish act — putting his body on the line in…
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) March 6, 2026
Tatum had hinted at his faster-than-expected recovery through multiple videos and photos shared on social media over the past few months.
However, his participation in a full 5-on-5 scrimmage with the Celtics in late February was the clearest sign that the 6-foot-8 forward was close to returning to game action.
He eventually made his comeback in the Celtics’ 63rd game of the season after initially being listed as questionable ahead of the matchup. While he started slowly, Tatum soon found his rhythm and finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists on 6-for-16 shooting from the field, including 3-for-8 from three-point range. The Celtics won the game by a convincing 120-100 score.
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Tatum’s return carries major implications for Boston. His elite scoring, rebounding, and playmaking make the Celtics’ offense even more dangerous. With 19 games remaining in the regular season, Boston now has time to reintegrate its star forward and prepare for a deep postseason run.
While minute restrictions will likely remain in place for the time being, the extra time should allow Tatum to regain his rhythm and return to the level he displayed before the injury.
