When Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks in May, there were fears that he would miss the whole of the 2025-26 campaign as well. But recent videos of the Boston Celtics star working out on the hardcourt have sparked optimism.
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A torn Achilles is not easy to recover from, and for many, including Tatum’s hero Kobe Bryant, it has proven to be career-altering. Proper recovery is essential, and rushing back too soon could lead to repeated setbacks that take a toll both mentally and physically.
But one doesn’t have to worry about these problems when they’re “superhuman”. That’s how the discussion ended up describing Tatum when Jaylen Brown provided a much-needed update from within the camp.
Brown, who is expected to be the Celtics’ main man in Tatum’s absence, spoke about Tatum’s injury during his Twitch stream. He didn’t confirm rumors suggesting Tatum will be back in March. But he did not brush aside the timeline either.
Answering a fan’s question, Brown admitted, “I’ve never seen anyone recover so fast from an Achilles injury, from any injury to that level. JT be going crazy.”
These revelations mean that there’s every chance Tatum returns to NBA action before the end of the upcoming season. And depending on how the Celtics play in his absence, he could be returning at a very crucial stage.
Brown then lauded Tatum‘s drive and work ethic, labeling them as the main reasons for the strides he has made in recovery just a few months after his injury. “I’m not surprised,” he continued, as his friend on the stream went on to describe Tatum as “superhuman”.
It’s not just Brown who has shed light on Tatum’s incredible road to recovery till now. Dr. Martin O’Malley, who operated on the 2024 champ’s Achilles, said in an interview, “I don’t think I’ve seen a person’s calf look as strong as his. At six or eight weeks, he was doing double heel rises. He worked his calf so hard that the side effect of loss of strength, I don’t think he’s going to have any.”
It’s all great news for Celtics fans, who can now cheer and hope their team lands a playoff spot until Tatum returns. But for the superstar, it’s been a long and difficult road so far, with a lot still left to be done.
Tatum on his career-altering injury
Without Tatum going down injured, many felt the Celtics would have at least reached the Conference Finals. But such is life.
For Tatum, it meant a difficult path back to full fitness, which began just a few days after he went down clutching his feet at the Garden. Describing the initial days after his surgery, Tatum told Sports Illustrated, “I was in a dark place.”
He even admitted to waking up in the middle of the night, contemplating quitting the sport altogether. Many athletes who have suffered serious long-term injuries can relate to that feeling. But Tatum, seeing the bigger picture, realized he just had to follow the process.
“I could see that there was a light at the end of this tunnel,” Tatum said. “And there’s just a bunch of days like that that kind of stack up with each other.”
Tatum’s return to the Celtics roster will be euphoric. Once he is back, he can put this chapter of his life behind him and focus on what’s next: Winning another NBA championship.
