The Boston Celtics announced Tuesday that Jayson Tatum had successfully had surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles tendon. The Boston Star suffered the injury late in Game 4 of the semifinals against the New York Knicks. The 27-year-old started a long road to recovery, leaving his return timeline uncertain.
Achilles injuries are often severe, especially for basketball players. Recovery timeline can extend from months to years, and even then, the performance level may not be at the best level. However, basketball history shows that some players have come back not just to play again but to boost the force.
Five Returns That Bring Hope
Kevin Durant
Durant tore his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals. He missed the entire 2019-20 season and returned in December 2020, nearly 18 months later. It was not a quick return, but he eventually regained his elite form. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 26.6 points on 52.7% shooting with the Phoenix Suns, proving his patience paid off.
Dominique Wilkins
Wilkins faced his ruptured injury in 1992 at the age of 32. After ten months, he returned and averaged 29.9 points per game in 71 appearances. He finished fifth in MVP voting, remained productive for several more seasons before retiring at 39.
Klay Thompson
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Thompson suffered a brutal back-to-back injury. An ACL tear followed by a torn Achilles in 2020, he missed two full seasons but returned in 2022. He averaged 21.9 points and shot over 41% from three. Though his numbers went down slightly this year with the Dallas Mavericks, his durability took a new shape.
Kobe Bryant
In 2013, Bryants’ recovery took eight months, but his post injury form never fully recaptured his post injury form. While he delivered memorable moments, ongoing injuries limited his impact in his final season.
DeMarcus Cousins
Cousin was in peak form before his 2018 Achilles tear, with an average of 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds. His return came after nearly a year, but he struggled to regain his All-Star level play.
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