Jayson Tatum is back. One of the game's brightest stars and reigning NBA champion is ready to return to the court after suffering a severely torn Achilles tendon during last season's playoffs. Tatum is back after 11 months as the Boston Celtics are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and look to make another serious run at the NBA Finals.
Even with all the hype surrounding Tatum's return, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Celtics hosted the Dallas Mavericks after a bad loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Tatum wouldn't have returned if he didn't feel 100% ready to make a serious impact. It may take some time to get back to what they were before the injury. But after we all watched him struggle in the early stages of rehab, you know Tatum is happy to get back to doing what he loves.
Tatum took the field Friday night and responded with an "I'm excited" message as he walked down the hallway toward the locker room.
"How does it feel to be back JT?"
"I'm excited."
Celtics star Jayson Tatum arrives before his first game after tearing his Achilles in the Eastern Conference Semifinals 😊🍀
(via @ESPN)pic.twitter.com/9UDZr7LYnz
- ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026
ClutchPoints' Celtics reporter Daniel Donabedian wrote that Tatum's return would make life easier for the Celtics. Sam Howser told them Tatum would fit right back in.
"He's been around [practice]So I think he'll be able to fit right in," he said. "We'll be able to fit around him."
