Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s return is imminent after being sidelined with an injury. Tatum’s status was upgraded to available on Friday afternoon ahead of the Celtics’ home matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.
He had been recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.
Tatum’s Injury and Recovery
Tatum suffered the injury during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the New York Knicks last May. He was listed as questionable for the game Thursday, the first time this season he hadn’t been listed as sidelined. Tatum, who turned 28 this week, previously indicated his return to the court would be for a home game.
If he debuts Friday, Tatum, who had surgery on May 13, will make his return to the court after 298 days. The typical rehabilitation window to return to basketball action following Achilles tendon surgery is between nine and 12 months.
Celtics’ Remaining Schedule
The Celtics (41-21) have 20 games remaining in the regular season, including 11 at TD Garden. Boston is currently in second place in the East standings.
After Friday’s home game against the Mavericks, the Celtics go on the road for three straight against playoff contenders: Cleveland on Sunday, San Antonio on Tuesday and Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Tatum’s Mindset and Team Impact
Tatum said he didn’t intend to return as a role player. Celtics forward Sam Hauser said Tatum’s drive to return to action has been evident throughout the season, from his daily workouts to travelling with the team on road trips while not missing a beat in his rehab process.
“It speaks volumes to how much he loves the game of basketball. He has been out roughly 10 months and him willing to come back on every single trip,” Hauser told reporters following the Celtics’ shootaround Friday morning. “He wants to be part of this.”
A minutes restriction or load management plan might be expected for Tatum. Boston plays its next 12 games without any back-to-backs on the docket; the next one is March 29 and 30. That should allow Tatum a chance to get some consistent reps on the court and gradually build himself up ahead of a playoff push in which the Celtics will once again be seen as a favorite to emerge from the Eastern Conference.
When Tatum went down with his injury last season, his thoughts quickly pivoted away from the devastation he felt for himself and what would soon be the end of his season.