Celtics' Jayson Tatum Looks 'Way Ahead' in Achilles Injury Recovery, NBA Scout Says

Jayson Tatum reportedly is making strides in his rehab from a torn Achilles injury.

Per Heavy Sports' Steve Bulpett, one scout said the Boston Celtics star looks "way ahead" in his recovery.

“He was moving really well,” the scout said. “There might have been a slight limp or something, but the surprising thing to me is that he didn’t have a boot for any of it.

“I’m no doctor, but I’ve seen guys coming back from Achilles’ tears, and he looked way ahead. I was kind of shocked to see how well he was moving. I have no idea for what any of this means for when he can come back. I’m sure him and the Celtics’ medical people have their program set up, and they’ll make sure that he’s where he needs to be when he does get back. But he looks great right now. Of course, he didn’t do any running or even jogging, but he was in great shape and he had no trouble doing his part at the camp.”

Tatum suffered a torn Achilles on May 12 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. He had surgery the following day.

About a month and a half after Tatum's surgery, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens declined to give a timeline for his recovery but said he had "progressed great."

"He's actually progressed great, but I don't know what that means in regard to projected timelines," Stevens said in June. "But that will be in consultation with him … and everybody else to make sure when he hits the court, he is fully ready, and fully healthy. And that will be the priority."

Tatum gave fans a look into his recovery earlier this month.

Throughout his career, Tatum has established himself as a competitor willing to put in the work to help his team, and that mindset has likely fueled his speedy recovery.

Tatum is coming off his fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team nod after putting up 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

Whether Tatum will be able to suit up during the 2025-26 campaign is still unknown, and the Celtics' playoff hopes largely depend on if he's available. Boston will likely be in the playoff mix with Jaylen Brown as the No. 1 option, but having Tatum on the court is the difference between a possible Finals run and an early exit.

Ultimately, Tatum's health is the most important factor at play, so the Celtics will likely be fine settling for a down year if it means Tatum can return when he's fully healed.