Despite the Celtics looking like contenders in the Eastern Conference, it seems as though a key piece won’t be returning for the playoff push.
Superstar forward Jayson Tatum is reportedly re-evaluating his Achilles injury and is considering sitting out the entirety of the 2025-26 season, insider Chris Haynes said on NBA TV on Wednesday.
According to Haynes, a final decision is yet to be made. The possibility of him choosing to take the full year off comes as a shock after he told Haynes earlier in the season that he would be “returning at some point” and “getting close” to a comeback this year.
It’s not clear what prompted Tatum to re-evaluate his situation, though Haynes mentioned there were “a couple of factors why he’s reached that point.”
Tatum suffered the torn Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks last May.
He was given a possible recovery timeline of eight to nine months, which had put him in line for a possible return in the coming weeks, barring any setbacks.
Over his eight years with the Celtics since being drafted third overall in 2017, Tatum has blossomed into one of the best wings in the NBA. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals last season and was named to the All-NBA first team for the fourth time in his career.
Despite being without Tatum, the Celtics have remained a contender in a weak Eastern Conference. Their 29-18 record has them second in the East, as fellow star wing Jaylen Brown has led the team with 29.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.