Jayson Tatum Injury Timeline Update as Celtics Star Reportedly 'Determined' to Play

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum "is determined to play" during the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Starting at the 33:05 mark in the newest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast, Tim Bontemps of ESPN pointed out how the Celtics haven't officially ruled the five-time NBA honoree out for the year.

Bontemps also posited that Boston's strong start — the team is third in the Eastern Conference at 18-11 — could expedite Tatum's return if he's deemed ready to go in a few months.

Tatum underwent surgery on his ruptured right Achilles tendon on May 13 after suffering the injury in Game 4 of the Celtics' second-round series against the New York Knicks.

Tatum's father said shortly after the surgery his son was expected to miss eight to nine months while recovering, per ESPN's Marc J. Spears.

About four months later, Tatum returned to on-court basketball workouts for the first time.

He said in a Sept. 23 appearance on ESPN's First Take he hadn't yet eliminated the possibility he could return this year.

The Celtics star told reporters later that month, however, that he felt "no pressure to return back any sooner than when I'm 100 percent healthy" from anyone in his organization.

Tatum led the Celtics in every major offensive category last regular season by averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists through 72 games.

He shot 45.2 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from deep while helping the Celtics top 60 wins for a second straight season.

Tatum was even more effective in the postseason, averaging 28.1 points and 11.5 rebounds through eight playoff games before suffering the injury that derailed both his season and the Celtics' postseason hopes.

The Celtics won Game 5 without Tatum to extend the series, but were unable to find another victory without their superstar as the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a Game 6 blowout.

Jaylen Brown has been tasked with leading the Celtics' offense, while Tatum has continued traveling with the team amid his ongoing rehabilitation process.

Making sure Tatum is fully recovered before he returns to the floor will be key to Boston's hopes of building another title contender around him in the future.