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BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 29: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics listens to a reporters question during Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics have adjusted to life without Jayson Tatum. Around the league, the conversation has adjusted too.
Since rupturing his Achilles in May, Tatum has steadily progressed through rehab, and the overall tone surrounding his recovery has become increasingly optimistic. A return at some point this season is now viewed by many as likely. The remaining question is not if, but when.
With that shift has come a steady stream of clips, workouts, and incremental updates. Alongside them, another layer of insight has quietly emerged. One shaped by players who have navigated long, uncertain rehabs themselves.
Behind the scenes, two former All-Stars with firsthand experience dealing with serious injuries are offering perspective that adds useful context to where Tatum is in the process.
That first time Tatum steps back on the floor might be the loudest the Garden has ever been
Why DeMarcus Cousins Sees Something Different
Few players are better positioned to contextualize an Achilles rehab than DeMarcus Cousins. The former All-Star saw his own career altered by the injury and has lived through the uncertainty that comes with it.
That experience is why his recent comments about Tatum stood out.
Cousins said the training footage he has seen of Tatum looks “night and day” compared to where Cousins himself was at a similar stage of recovery. He stopped short of predicting anything definitive, but acknowledged that Tatum appears further along than many players historically have been.
Cousins was not offering a timeline or forecasting a return. He was simply noting that the way Tatum is moving, training, and progressing does not resemble the early stages of most Achilles rehabs he has witnessed.
Coming from someone whose own comeback was defined by setbacks, that perspective carries weight.
Demarcus Cousins compares his Achilles recovery to Jayson Tatum’s recovery:
“The video I saw of Jayson Tatum training… It’s night and day from where I was coming back to where he is now… it’s definitely a chance for him to return this season.”
Blake Griffin’s Role Behind The Scenes
Physical progress is only one part of the equation. The other is the mental grind, something former Celtic Blake Griffin knows well.
Griffin, who spent the 2022–23 season in Boston, has remained in regular contact with Tatum throughout his rehab. In an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints’ Daniel Donabedian, Griffin described checking in every few weeks, offering advice shaped by years of dealing with injuries that repeatedly interrupted his own career.
One message has been consistent.
Griffin told Tatum to allow himself a short window to process the frustration, then move forward fully committed to the work. Rehab, he explained, can be isolating, tedious, and emotionally draining, especially for a player who had rarely missed time before this injury.
Griffin also clearly emphasized patience: “You may be able to play within, call it 10 months. But does 16 months give you a much better chance at not re-injuring and not injuring something else? I think the data on that is very clear.”
Blake Griffin discussed Jayson Tatum’s injury timeline with me:
“You may be able to play within, call it 10 months. But does 16 months give you a much better chance at not re-injuring and not injuring something else? I think the data on that is very clear.”
Why Patience Still Benefits the Celtics
If anything, the advice Tatum is receiving aligns closely with the Celtics’ current position.
Boston has started the season better than many expected despite missing its best player. The roster has developed. Roles have expanded.
Griffin addressed that reality directly, noting that while an earlier return can be tempting mentally, longer recovery windows historically reduce the risk of reinjury or secondary issues. He stopped well short of telling Tatum what to do, acknowledging that only Tatum and the team truly know where he stands.
That balance matters. Encouragement without urgency. Optimism without expectation. That was reinforced by his head coach, when asked when Tatum could return: “It’s all up to him.”
Will Jayson Tatum return to the Celtics’ lineup sooner than anticipated? 👀
Joe Mazzulla is leaving it up to his superstar:
What It Means for Tatum and the Celtics
Tatum is navigating unfamiliar territory, but he is not doing it alone. Advice from players who have experienced both the highs of superstardom and the lows of long rehabs is shaping how he approaches each step.
For the Celtics, that may be the most important update of all.
The process is deliberate. The voices guiding it are experienced. And for now, that is exactly where things should remain.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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