Celtics' Jayson Tatum to Reportedly Consult Kevin Durant About Achilles Injury Rehab

After suffering a torn Achilles, Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum is reportedly expected to talk with Kevin Durant regarding the rehabilitation process.

"I'm told that the expectation around [Jayson] Tatum is that he will consult with Kevin Durant about that rehab that [KD] had several years ago and that's gonna be used kind of as a template," ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday on NBA Countdown.

Tatum sustained his Achilles tear in Game 4 of the Celtics' second-round playoff matchup with the New York Knicks, while the Phoenix Suns star suffered the same injury in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

While Achilles tears require a long and arduous rehab process, Durant is a prime example of a player returning to an elite level after suffering the injury.

The two-time champion missed the entire 2019-20 season as he recovered, but has remained one of the league's top three-level scorers since his return in Dec. 2020.

Durant has averaged 27.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game on 53.1/41.5/88.0 shooting splits in 274 total appearances after suffering the injury.

Tatum's Achilles tear was a tough blow for a Celtics squad coming off a 2024 championship, as he wrapped up another successful regular season entering the 2025 playoffs. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and a career-high 6.0 assists per game to go along with a 53.7 effective field-goal percentage in 72 starts.

Tatum was also selected as an All-Star for the sixth consecutive year.

He underwent surgery to repair the injury on Tuesday, but a recovery timeline wasn't disclosed. ESPN's Stephania Bell noted that the average rehab for NBA players takes roughly 10 months following an Achilles tear, putting Tatum's 2025-26 season in jeopardy.

As the Celtics star prepares to begin the recovery process, he'll reportedly consult with Durant.