The Boston Celtics are doing the best they can with the contributors they have available.
Still, the 2024 NBA champions are off to a concerning 1-3 start, prompting many to press the panic button early.
The Celtics would be over the moon to have Jayson Tatum back in the starting lineup for their next game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he’s yet to be cleared for action.
Why Jayson Tatum isn’t playing tonight vs. the Cavaliers.
Tatum suffered an Achilles injury in a mid-May playoff clash against the New York Knicks last season, which instantly made him unavailable for the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
However, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the 6-foot-8 superstar shouldn’t be ruled out for the entire year.
“Based off of what he texts me, I think we will see him at some point during the regular season,” Haynes said last Wednesday “He told me he’s working out three times per week, 45-minute sessions.
“He said he’s 23 weeks out from when he underwent surgery and he’s feeling good. He’s posted video of him being able to explode off of that leg. I asked him, ‘You’re really trying to come back this season?’ and basically he was like, ‘I’m not putting in all this work for nothing.”
Tatum’s potential return will likely depend on the Celtics’ status in the Eastern Conference during the second half of the year, as rushing Tatum back when there’s no hope of reaching the postseason/winning a title is pointless.
More NBA: Lakers urged to trade injured superstar before deadline
