Celtics’ Harper shares Jayson Tatum looked like himself in practice

Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. couldn’t maintain again his smile when he was requested about Jayson Tatum’s efficiency in his current apply with the Maine Celtics.

In an interview with Sirius XM NBA Radio, Harper shared that Tatum performed like himself through the apply with the Celtics’ G League affiliate on Tuesday.

“He appeared like Jayson Tatum,” Harper stated. “I’ll say that a lot.”

Harper, who participated in that apply, continued to tease Tatum’s potential return, however wouldn’t say if the Celtics star is returning this season as he continues to rehab from an Achilles tear he suffered final Could.

“We’re actual excited,” Harper stated. “We’ve acquired this jokester sitting down, however we’re actual excited in regards to the potential of him coming again. We don’t know for positive if [he is] or not going to return again. However we’re simply actual excited to see him progress throughout his rehab.”

Tatum’s apply with the Maine Celtics ramped up hypothesis that he might very properly return this season, and it is likely to be the most effective signal but that it might occur. However Tatum didn’t need individuals learn an excessive amount of into his apply when he met with reporters on Tuesday.

“It was the subsequent step,” Tatum stated. “Doesn’t imply that I’m coming again [this season] or I’m not. It’s simply following the plan.”

Tatum’s standing on the Celtics’ harm report hasn’t modified as soon as this season, with the crew persevering with to rule him out for every recreation. The crew has nonetheless refused to provide a possible timetable for his return, too. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has additionally iterated that Tatum received’t return till he’s “110 p.c” prepared, most lately giving a variation of that quote following the commerce deadline earlier in February.

Nonetheless, it’s exhausting to not marvel if Tatum would possibly really return this season. Sometimes, when a participant practices with their crew’s G League affiliate, it’s an indication that their return is coming sooner fairly than later. Tatum’s additionally been taking part in five-on-five scrimmages with Celtics’ coaches, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday. Former NBA participant Lou Williams said that’s typically a sign {that a} participant is roughly a month away from returning.

For now, although, Tatum has expressed happiness simply to be again on the courtroom and praciticing lower than a 12 months after struggling the devastating harm.

“I’m feeling good,” Tatum stated. “It was good to be part of apply yesterday with the Maine G League guys. [It’s been] 39 weeks, so it’s been a protracted journey.”