Jayson Tatum, 10 months after Achilles injury, expected to return to Celtics Friday vs Mavericks: report

Jayson Tatum’s instrumentality to an NBA tribunal appears to beryllium coming overmuch sooner than anyone expected.  

The Boston Celtics superstar could beryllium suiting up arsenic aboriginal arsenic Friday, which marks astir 10 months since helium tore an Achilles against the New York Knicks successful the Eastern Conference semifinals past season, per ESPN. 

The Celtics volition look Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks Friday astatine TD Garden, and Tatum is expected to beryllium retired determination with his teammates for the archetypal clip since his injury. 

Tatum was officially listed arsenic questionable connected the Celtics’ wounded report.

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Boston Celtics guardant Jayson Tatum applauds from the seat successful the 2nd 4th against the Charlotte Hornets astatine TD Garden March 4, 2026. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe)

Brad Stevens, the Celtics’ president of hoops operations, noted that his prima defender wouldn’t beryllium cleared until helium was decidedly acceptable to play, some physically and mentally.

That’s particularly the lawsuit considering the Celtics don’t request Tatum to unreserved back. They’re 41-21, which gives them the No. 2 effect successful the Eastern Conference. 

Tatum besides noted helium would privation to instrumentality for a location game.

Boston has had players stepping up successful the lack of Tatum, including his counterpart Jaylen Brown. Brown has taken connected the scoring load, averaging 28.9 points per crippled with 7.2 rebounds and 5 assists. 

Derrick White has added 17.3 points per game, portion doing enactment connected the antiaircraft extremity with 1.2 steals. 

Boston Celtics guardant Jayson Tatum walks disconnected the tribunal aft Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks astatine TD Garden. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe)

And the Celtics person had Payton Pritchard (16.8 points, 5.3 assists) and Anfernee Simons (14.2 points) helping the squad each night. 

The 28-year-old Tatum returning is thing abbreviated of singular considering the mean model for Achilles rehab is 9-12 months, and it’s usually connected the aboriginal extremity of the timeline. 

As Tatum looks to return, helium was good alert of however bully his squad has been successful his absence. He has been spotted connected the seat cheering his teammates connected each season, and helium wants to seamlessly enactment his mode backmost into the rotation. 

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons astatine Little Caesars Arena Jan. 19, 2026, successful Detroit. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

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"I’m conscionable hyper alert of what’s going on. I deliberation it would conscionable stem from that," helium said, according to NBA.com. "Obviously, I cognize what I bring to the array and bring to the team. But I’m besides alert that these guys person been playing highly well."

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