Jayson Tatum had a disastrous end to this NBA season. The Celtics’ superstar left the court after rupturing his Achilles on May 12, and with that ended Boston’s dream.
However, his return to the court for the 2025-26 season is highly unlikely. Generally, athletes recovering from Achilles tears take at least 8 to 12 months before resuming intense activities.
And Tatum is no different unless he channels his inner Kobe Bryant mentality.
Kevin O’Connor from Yahoo suggests that Tatum might be among the exceptions who recover faster. However, Chris Mannix from Sports Illustrated strongly believes that Tatum will not return at all during the 2025-26 season.
Here’s the conversation between the two NBA insiders, as per The Sporting News.
O’Connor: “Tatum’s out for, at a minimum, eight or nine months.”
Mannix: “He’s done (for all of 2025-26). I’d be shocked if he came back.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
O’Connor: “You’d give it (a) zero percent chance?”
Mannix: “I mean, not zero because he’s a young guy, and maybe … there’s some kind of herculean recovery. But if you get past the All-Star break, and you’re kind of in that playoff/play-in race, the last thing you want to do is stick a guy back in that’s gonna need some training wheels for a while.”
“Like, you’re not putting Jayson Tatum back into the middle of a playoff race coming off an Achilles injury.”
“I haven’t talked to enough people around Tatum to be certain about this, but, you know, past the All-Star break … if he’s not ramped all the way up, they’re not gonna bring him back next year,” Mannix continued.
Jayson Tatum Could Channel His Inner ‘Mamba Mentality’
However, despite going back and forth during the discussion with Mannix, O’Connor still sees a silver lining in Tatum’s return to the 2026 playoffs.
O’Connor: “This is the dude who texted Kobe (Bryant) after Kobe passed away.
“Kobe was like nine months (recovery from his Achilles). That’s what I’m saying. Tatum’s gonna try to do what Kobe did. Come back fast.”
Mannix: “If you’re Boston, you don’t let him.”
While the conversation suits just right with the enthusiastic Celtics fans, it would be next to magical for Tatum to pull off a Kobe. The risk of reinjury is too high to rush him back.
Ultimately, the Celtics’ medical staff will play a crucial role in the decision to ensure his long-term health is prioritized over a quick return. Thus, while a comeback in 2026 playoff scenarios cannot be completely dismissed, it remains highly improbable.
Also Read: Brandon Jennings Finally Breaks Silence On Calling Jayson Tatum ‘The Softest Celtics Superstar Ever’
