Despite not having Jayson Tatum for the entire season so far, the Boston Celtics have been one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
However, getting back the franchise star would be a great help for the Celtics, and while there has been back-and-forth reporting on a potential return, the latest Tatum injury update points to him being closer than ever before to getting back on the court.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Tatum practiced in five-on-five drills, one of the last steps players traditionally take before returning from injuries.
(via @ShamsCharania, h/t @lockedupjb)
“Jayson Tatum has been a full go in five-on-five scrimmages with the Celtics,” Charania said on NBA Today on ESPN. “Right now it’s about him continuing to put in the time, continuing to get his conditioning up, and that comes through a number of practices and scrimmages.”
Tatum suffered a torn Achilles tendon in May during Boston’s conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks. Previously, the star forward did not commit to a return this season, but the latest injury update points to him inching closer to making his season debut.
Jayson Tatum Injury Update And Potential Return Timeline
To say there hasn’t been a ton of reporting about a potential Tatum return this season would be an understatement, as there have been constant injury updates from Celtics team insiders and reporters all season.
Still, up until recently, it was uncertain whether he would play for Boston this season, as in the past, like with Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, players traditionally sat out for an entire year after suffering a torn ACL late in the season or in the playoffs.
But in Tatum’s case, a return to action has never been ruled out, and based on Charania’s latest reporting, it could be coming very soon. However, the insider added that while Tatum’s leg could be fully healthy, evaluating the mental side of things is as important as his physical health.
“The big hurdle of all of this is getting 100% there on the mental side. Getting the confidence in his leg, fully, when he’s back,” Charania added. “The common theme that I’ve gotten from people around Jayson Tatum is ‘He will be back on the floor when JT feels like JT.”
“He was at practice.”
“Did he participate?”
Joe Mazzulla: 😐
(Via @CelticsCLNS)
The insider said that the Celtics are leaving an injury return up to Tatum himself, waiting until he is ready to get back on the floor. Charania hinted at sometime in March as a potential return date for the star, but it will remain up to him, as after conferring with team officials and medical staff once he’s fully cleared, he’ll make a decision.
Jaylen Brown Injury Update
In other Celtics injury report news, Jaylen Brown recently sat out of a recent game due to a bruised right knee. The forward, leading the way for Boston, putting up an All-NBA level campaign while Tatum has been out, was originally listed as questionable, and then ruled out against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
However, in the lead-up to the Celtics’ Wednesday night game against the Denver Nuggets, Brown was taken off the injury report, leaving Tatum as the team’s only player with an injury designation.
“Jaylen Brown is off the injury report and available for tonight’s game at the Denver Nuggets, per the Boston Celtics,” NBA reporter Keith Smith wrote in a post on X. “Jayson Tatum is the only player on the injury report and he remains out.”
In 51 games, Brown is averaging 29.2 points, seven rebounds, and 4.9 assists, all of which are career-highs, while on 48.1/34.4/77.6 shooting splits.
While it’s difficult to understand the full extent of knee contusion, the quick turnaround and the latest Brown injury update point to Boston resting him on the first night of a back-to-back, but he’ll now return to the lineup against the Nuggets.
Celtics Get Massive Jayson Tatum Injury Update With New Return Timeline