Jayson Tatum was again on the court docket Monday, carrying a inexperienced jersey along with his signature No. 0.
The jersey said “Maine,” not “Boston,” and the court docket was on the Celtics’ Auerbach Heart apply facility, not TD Backyard. Talking with reporters at some point later, he remained tight-lipped on when or if he plans to return to recreation motion this season.
However the practice with Boston’s G League affiliate, which traveled down from Portland for the event, was Tatum’s most vital step but in his ongoing restoration from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
“I’m feeling good,” the Celtics star mentioned Tuesday. “It was good to be part of apply yesterday with the Maine G League guys. In the present day is 39 weeks (since surgical procedure), so it’s been a protracted journey, and it’s simply the development of rehab.
“It was the following step. It doesn’t imply that I’m coming again or I’m not. I’m simply following the plan, so it’s simply one other step.”
Tatum, addressing the Boston media corps for the primary time since Day 1 of Celtics coaching camp in September, mentioned it’s “been robust not having the ability to play and compete” this season. His damage, which he suffered in Recreation 4 of the 2025 Japanese Convention semifinals at Madison Sq. Backyard, has sidelined him for extra regular-season video games (53) than he’d missed in his complete NBA profession earlier than it (51).
Although he’s attended practically each Celtics recreation, residence and highway, and continued to take part in staff conferences and movie classes, Tatum’s major focus has been rehab — a months-long, usually tedious course of he described as “exhausting.” He’s made regular progress, nevertheless. Because the season tipped off final fall, he’s upped his workload from particular person on-court workouts to 1-on-1 drills with Boston coaches and, most lately, to 5-on-5 exercises.
Monday’s apply with Maine — “parts” of which he participated in, in line with the staff — was Tatum’s first since his damage, and it might sign he’s nearing a return.
Early final season, the Celtics introduced of their G League squad to apply with massive man Kristaps Porzingis, who was recovering from leg surgical procedure on the time. Porzingis made his season debut eight days later.
“He’s within the thirty ninth week in his development,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned of Tatum. “He’s persevering with to only chip away on the development of his rehab, and it was nice to see him take one other step. There’s been plenty of steps and milestones alongside the way in which, ranging from simply strolling, and it was nice to see him get to the following one.”
Mazzulla, who’s made some extent to be current for every “milestone” in Tatum’s restoration, mentioned the All-NBA wing “appeared good” in apply.
“I believe yesterday was an excellent milestone for him mentally, bodily, emotionally,” Mazzulla mentioned, “nevertheless it’s an excellent milestone to see the work that he’s put in to get again up so far.”
Tatum has more benchmarks to clear earlier than he’s game-ready — president of basketball operations Brad Stevens on Sunday mentioned he “nonetheless has a methods to go” — however he’s given thought to how he’ll match again right into a Celtics staff that’s been one of many NBA’s finest with out him this season.
Throughout a latest look on “The Pivot” podcast, he acknowledged there “clearly could be some challenges” as he rebuilds chemistry with Boston’s new-look roster. Days after that interview dropped, it was reported that Tatum was “reevaluating” his play to return this season.
“I believe over 39 weeks, you might have plenty of time in your palms,” Tatum mentioned Tuesday when requested about these feedback. “You concentrate on plenty of issues, and also you’re simply hyper-aware of what’s happening. I believe it simply stemmed from that. Clearly, I do know what I carry to the desk and produce to the staff, however I’m additionally conscious that these guys have been enjoying extraordinarily effectively. And to not say that I’d come and mess it up or something like that. It was simply type of being susceptible, I suppose, for a second and speaking from that perspective.”
Three of the Celtics’ present rotation gamers — heart Luka Garza, rookie wing Hugo Gonzalez and trade-deadline addition Nikola Vucevic — have by no means performed with Tatum. Of the seven teammates who’ve, most have bigger roles on this Boston staff than they did in earlier years.
That features longtime co-star Jaylen Brown, who’s thrived in his first season because the Celtics’ No. 1 possibility. Brown ranks fourth within the NBA in scoring (29.4 factors per recreation) and was voted an All-Star starter for the primary time.
“Yeah, I imply, it’d look completely different,” Tatum mentioned. “I haven’t performed with these guys or with this group, however (the Celtics have) lot of high-IQ guys on the market. I like to contemplate myself a type of sorts of gamers. So if that did current itself, and if I did come again, we professionals will determine it out.”
Mazzulla sidestepped questions on Tatum’s match inside that group, together with whether or not he might come off the bench or be beneath a minutes restriction if and when he returns.
“I image the way it went yesterday — the following step within the development of being on the court docket with the Maine staff,” the coach mentioned. “I image him on the market like he was yesterday. I image him within the weight room, persevering with to get higher. I image him in his exercises, persevering with to get higher. And I image the progressions persevering with ahead of simply getting higher and higher and ensuring he’s the place he desires to be earlier than we discuss that.”
The Celtics, who sit third within the Japanese Convention standings behind Detroit and New York, will play their last recreation earlier than the NBA All-Star break Wednesday evening in opposition to the Chicago Bulls at TD Backyard. After the break, they’ll instantly embark on a four-game West Coast swing earlier than returning residence for matchups with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, Feb. 27 and Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, March 1. They’ll additionally host the Charlotte Hornets on March 4 and Dallas Mavericks on March 6.
Tatum mentioned months in the past that his first recreation again can be at TD Backyard.
“I’m nonetheless attempting to determine it out,” he mentioned Tuesday. “I’m nonetheless simply going by means of the progressions of rehab. I’m not saying I’m coming again or I’m not. It’s all about being 100% wholesome and going by means of the plan of this protocol.”
