Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has played in eight games since returning from his Achilles tear. The future Hall of Famer is averaging 19.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 38.8% from the field, 29.3% from beyond the arc and 85.2% from the free-throw line.
The Celtics are 6-2 with Tatum in the lineup. Their second loss came on Sunday (3/22) at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and after the game, Tatum opened up about his return from his Achilles tear.
“I mean, I ain’t know how this [expletive] was going to be,” Tatum said, via the Boston Globe. “I mean, it’s tough. In the moment, you try not to think about it, you just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again. I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously going to take some time. I think the next day I can give myself a little more grace over certain things, but in the moment, I mean, it’s frustrating.”
Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in May. Many people thought the 2024 NBA champion would sit out this season, but Tatum’s goal was always to return quicker than expected.
The Celtics are in second place in the Eastern Conference. They have 11 games left in the regular season.
“I mean, it’s just been a long time. It was a long time before I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk. So just trying to knock the rust off game by game,” Tatum said. “I find great spurts and moments from game to game and, you know, just trying to put more of them together.”
It will be fascinating to see how Tatum performs in the 2026 playoffs. If the Duke product regains his superstar form, the Celtics could win their second championship in the Tatum-Jaylen Brown era.
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