He’s back! Six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum is expected to make his first appearance this season on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, just 10 months after rupturing his right Achilles tendon, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Tatum, who suffered an injury late in Game 4 of the Boston Celtics’ second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, will join a Celtics team that has far exceeded preseason expectations and is No. 2 in the wide-open Eastern Conference just weeks before the end of the regular season.
Why is Tatum coming back now? How will his return affect the title race? How could this change the season for the Celtics?
NBA insiders answer the five biggest questions surrounding the unlikely return of the 2024 NBA champion.
Why is Tatum back now, and what can the Celtics expect?
He’s coming back because his goal has always been to be able to play meaningful basketball this season.
That’s why Tatum underwent surgery the morning after he tore his Achilles tendon in Madison Square Garden, before the swelling that would have cost him another month of time occurred.
It was something he learned from studying the experience of his idol, Kobe Bryant, who detailed his recovery from an Achilles injury in a documentary.
For months, Tatum wasn’t sure he would be ready this season. There are still boxes he needs to check off — most importantly, the mental box, about trusting his body again. But by attacking his rehab the way he did, Tatum gave himself that opportunity to come back and contribute to the Celtics’ playoff run. — Ramona Shelburne
How do we expect the Celtics to change on the court with Tatum’s return?
Tatum has led the Celtics in shot attempts in each of the past six seasons. The last Celtics player to shoot the ball more frequently than Tatum was Kyrie Irving in the 2018-19 season. So with this big man back in Boston’s rotation, one of the biggest questions is how Jaylen Brown will adjust, as he has entered the fringes of the MVP conversation by taking on much more responsibility in Tatum’s absence.
Last season, Brown ranked 23rd among eligible players in usage rate (28.9%), but in 2025-26, he jumps to second in the league (36.5%), behind only Luka Doncic. There will likely be some initial conflict as the two stars navigate their new balance, with a rookie Brown and Tatum returning from a debilitating injury.
However, adding such a dynamic offensive force should benefit Brown and his teammates, even if they sacrifice some size to Tatum; There is still room for growth, even with the Celtics ranked second as an offensive team. Among the 123 players who have made at least 500 shot attempts this season, according to GeniusIQ, Payton Pritchard ranks 58th in shooting quality, Derrick White is 94th, and Brown is 101st. In contrast, last season, all three players had easier looks playing alongside Tatum. — Zach Cram
How different are the Celtics from last season’s team?
Dramatically. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were traded, and Luke Kornet and Al Horford left in free agency, removing four major spots from Boston’s title race in 2024. Naturally, the Celtics have been without Tatum since his injury last May.
But Boston has far exceeded all expectations this season — at least all outside expectations — thanks to a combination of impressive play by its veterans and strong growth from its young players.
Neemias Koeta has emerged as a solid starter in one of the best value signings in the league, and the young trio of Jordan Walsh, Baylor Sherman and rookie Hugo Gonzalez has given coach Joe Mazzola consistent energy on the wings in Tatum’s absence.
Meanwhile, Tatum returns to the heart of the Browns, whose play has earned him a spot in the thick of the MVP race; Derrick White, who set career highs in points, assists, steals and blocks per game; And Payton Pritchard, who is having the best season of his career at over 32 minutes per game, averaging nearly 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. – Tim Bontemps
How might his return impact the Eastern Conference playoff race?
Our Basketball Power Index (BPI) has been keeping tabs on Tatum’s promised return date of April 1 (then March 15, now March 6), so projections for his return are already included. That’s why they have a 45% chance of the top seed in the East, the favorite to get that spot.
So, in terms of prediction, Tatum’s return doesn’t really impact anything. It’s already integrated. If they don’t combine, BPI will only have a 35% chance of getting that top spot. So the Knicks and Cavs could have had an easier path.
In fact, the shock that Tatum has brought to the race now, is nowhere near the shock that the entire Celtics team has brought to the Eastern Conference this season so far.
Remember, at the beginning of the year, Team C had a 50% chance of making the playoffs. Those players who got them this far are still around; They just need to get a bunch of reps in with Tatum before the postseason starts. — Dean Oliver
How does his return impact the Celtics’ offseason approach?
Don’t expect a repeat of last summer’s performance, when Boston cut salaries significantly.
The departure of Porzingis, Holiday, Horford and Kornet not only reduced the Celtics’ payroll from a projected $540 million to $187 million, but also balanced their finances in the coming years as well.
Trading Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic, along with three secondary trades at the February deadline, pushed Boston under the luxury tax for the first time since 2021-22.
With 11 players under contract this offseason, including Tatum, Brown and White, Boston is sitting at $21 million under the luxury tax and comfortably below both aprons. The Celtics also have their own first-round and second-round picks from Milwaukee in June’s draft.
The big decision will come at the center position.
Vucevic is an unrestricted free agent, and Queta has a $2.7 million team option. Boston could exercise Queta’s option and re-sign Vucevic while still being subject to the luxury tax — both aprons. The Celtics would then be allowed to give Queta an extension of up to four years and $93 million. The first season of the extension will begin in 2027-28. — Bobby Marks
