Better days ahead.
That’s the mantra Jayson Tatum delivered over the summer while detailing the early stages of his rehabilitation from Achilles surgery. We can’t help but think it might be a bit of slogan for the 2025-26 Celtics, too.
Because regardless of how the season plays out — and we still believe this team is going to surprise some pundits out of the gates — every day is one step closer to Tatum being back on the court. And that means even better days are ahead.
But when exactly do we think Tatum might be back in an NBA game?
For Day 17 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to predict the date that Tatum will return to game action for the Celtics.
First, all the necessary disclaimers: None of our prognosticators are doctors. No one can possibly know how Tatum’s rehab will progress from this moment. But using glimpses from his first 17 weeks of recovery as a guide, we’re tossing some darts at the calendar.
The Celtics have intentionally put no timeline on Tatum’s rehab. All we know is that he’s attacked his recovery with relentless energy, and every indication suggests he’s making encouraging progress. Boston’s brass did all it could to set Tatum up for success, including getting him into surgery almost immediately after the injury with the hope of giving him every opportunity to make an expedited recovery.
When Tatum initially ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, we simply assumed we wouldn’t see him again until October, 2026. Why would the team rush him back? And operating with an abundance of caution might ultimately be the best plan of attack.
But we also know how hard it’s going to be for members of the Celtics organization to keep Tatum on the sidelines once he starts checking the final boxes in his rehab. He’s going to be itching to play in October, let alone March or April.
Tatum sure appears to be doing all he can to force the team to ponder whether a return this season is the best path.
As Celtics president Rich Gotham noted over the summer: “What I know about JT is that he’s gonna do everything he can to put us in a position to make a decision [about when he plays again].”
Tatum celebrates his 28th birthday on March 3, 2026. That would be slightly more than nine months removed from his injury. If doctors are certain he wouldn’t be putting himself at risk by using late-season games to shake some rust — all while pacing himself in the early stages of that return — we could see Wednesday, March 4 being a belated birthday gift to himself.
The Hornets might not necessarily be a circle-the-date matchup on the surface, but Tatum would have a bunch of Duke fans watching the Hornets broadcast back in North Carolina.
The month of March is overflowing with intriguing matchups. If Tatum is healthy enough by that point, there’s no shortage of opportunities to make a glitzy return.
But here’s the bottom line: If we’re even simply pondering Tatum being close to a return before the end of the 2025-26 season, then that’s a win on its own. And there are most certainly better days are ahead.
Let’s see what dates our panel predicted for Tatum’s return:
Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor
March 14 vs. Washington.
Yes, there’s a case for holding Tatum out the entire season and ensuring he’s fully healthy for 2026-27. But based on how he’s been attacking his rehab, we could absolutely see him being cleared to play 10 months and one day after his surgery.
After weeks of lobbying, Tatum finally convinces the Celtics to let him play limited minutes against the lowly Wizards on the first game of a three-game homestand.
Michael Hurley, Web Producer
Late October, 2026.
I know everybody is getting excited, and that’s a good thing. Maybe I’m a worrywart, but the idea of Tatum rushing back to “save the day” sounds like a recipe for re-injury, sadness, dismay, and the like.
Even with Tatum, the Celtics were going to lose to the Knicks last postseason. I think he’d be better served letting Brad Stevens cook next summer and build a behemoth for 2026-27, and then help that team go on a championship run. I see minimal reward to the risk of rushing him back.
Josh Canu, Media Editor
March 22 vs. Minnesota.
I think the noise will start to get loud during the All-Star break and he could come back even sooner, but I’ll play a little more conservative than that and pick a homestand against Minnesota and Oklahoma City. Tatum is entering his physical prime and we know he hates to miss games, so I think he is going to surprise a lot of people.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content
October 2026.
I want it to be this season, but if there’s a one percent chance that he’s not 100 percent, then you have to be patient.
Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy
March 27 vs. Atlanta.
A Friday night at TD Garden could be a rocking welcome for Tatum. He then gets at least one of the next two games off with the back-to-back on the road. Ease him in, but give him a huge ovation from the fans.
Kayla Burton, Celtics Pregame Live host
February 27 vs. Brooklyn.
I would hate to see him rush back, but he’s already rehabbing so well and working incredibly hard to get back out there. Plus he hates sitting out. He’ll be too antsy to sit out the whole season, and he will be back soon after the All-Star break.
