Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum is aiming to return on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks after being upgraded on the team's injury report for the first time all season.
He is officially listed as questionable to play against the Mavs.
Tatum, who has been working extremely hard to make his comeback from an Achilles injury suffered in last year's playoffs against the New York Knicks, will now give the Celtics a huge boost a month before the end of the 2025-26 regular season.
Many were wondering when this moment would come for the 28-year-old superstar and now the answer has been found.
Friday will mark 298 days since Tatum suffered an Achilles injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks, a moment that changed the trajectory of the Celtics franchise as we knew it. However, Tatum immediately dedicated himself to coming back stronger than ever, and his goal was always to return during the 2025–26 season.
After recently being cleared for full contact in 5-on-5 scrimmages and practice, it was only a matter of time before Tatum got the green light. When he steps onto the court for the first time this season on Friday at TD Garden, Tatum will face a very strict minutes restriction from head coach Joe Mazzulla and the medical staff.
Tatum recently took to social media after passing the 40-week mark in his recovery process, leading many to wonder if his season debut was imminent.
"40 weeks," Tatum wrote. “I have really grown to appreciate this journey and have found time to pat myself on the back for doing well every day!”
Without Tatum this season, many expected the Celtics to take a step back, but All-Star wing Jaylen Brown has put this franchise in a position to compete for a championship, especially with his partner in crime back.
Brown has cemented himself in the MVP discussion this year, and he has led the Celtics to a 41-21 record ahead of Friday's showdown with Dallas. Boston currently holds sole possession of the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference and is five games behind the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in the standings.
While he's still technically listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Mavs, all signs point towards the Celtics making it official and Tatum's season debut to what will be a thrilled and sold-out crowd in Boston.
Tatum is back for the Celtics.
