Jayson Tatum to practice with Maine Celtics as he nears return

Jayson Tatum continues to inch nearer and nearer to a return to the parquet ground.

Tatum — out since rupturing his Achilles tendon in Could 2025 — was assigned to the Maine Celtics on Monday, per a workforce launch. In keeping with the announcement, the star ahead anticipated to participate in practices with the workforce on the Auerbach Heart in Brighton.

After follow — which is able to characteristic guard Hugo Gonzalez and heart Amari William — Tatum will likely be recalled to Boston, the place he’ll proceed his ongoing rehab course of. 

Regardless of the prolonged restoration timeline that comes with an Achilles tear, Tatum has seemingly been forward of schedule for months. He posted videos of himself dunking in October, and even held an hour-long workout session in front of reporters in Detroit final month. 

On Sunday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Tatum had been collaborating in managed 5-on-5 scrimmages with coaches. 

Tatum being cleared to follow with G-League gamers is one other promising growth for the Celtics, who enter Monday tied with the Knicks for second place within the Japanese Convention with a report of 34-19. 

Tatum’s timeline has been favorable for Boston all season lengthy, however the 27-year-old ahead admitted he had some hesitancy about coming again this season during an interview on “The Pivot” Podcast final month.

“That’s one thing I ponder day by day,” Tatum informed Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder when requested about becoming in along with his teammates as soon as once more. “Extra so in regards to the workforce. If or once I do come again this season, they may have performed 50 some-odd video games with out me, so that they have an identification this 12 months or issues that they’ve felt have clicked for them. And it’s been profitable. They’re the (second) workforce within the East up thus far.”

“So there’s a thought in my head, like, how does that work? Or how does that look with me integrating myself off the harm … 50, 60 video games right into a season? There clearly may very well be some challenges. And it’s a thought: Do I come again? Ought to I wait? It’s one thing that I actually, not too long ago, within the final two weeks or so simply type of ponder each single day.”

Talking on Friday, Brad Stevens didn’t mince phrases when requested if there is likely to be any reservations about taking part in Tatum this season — as long as he’s given a clear invoice of well being. 

“The perfect time for Jayson Tatum to come back again is when he’s 110 % wholesome, he’s absolutely cleared by everyone that issues in that call, and he’s bought nice peace of thoughts and he’s able to do it,” Stevens mentioned, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “That’s it. That’s the target and that’s what we’re going to stay with.”

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.