BOSTON (WHDH) – Boston Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum has been listed as available by the team for Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, clearing the way for his return less than 10 months after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.
The 6-time NBA All Star returns to the starting lineup for the first time since May 12, 2025, less than 300 days after suffering the injury.
Tatum’s teammates and coaches said they are not surprised by his remarkable recovery.
“Obviously we see the work he puts in everyday, he’s in the weight room constantly, he’s getting his treatment, doing his rehab, getting on court, getting his work in so just watching from afar it’s been cool to see the progression he’s made and how fast it’s been,” said Celtics forward Sam Hauser. “He’s been out for, I don’t know, roughly 10 months, and him being willing to come on every single trip, being in a lot of film sessions, be at practice everyday, putting his work in, it speaks volumes to everybody else on the team knowing that he’s still there, he wants to be part of this.”
“You’ve seen all the work he’s put in, and it’s been consistent since day one. And so you see that, you see him on the court being able to do the things he does, it’s fun to see. So I’ll be looking forward to getting out there playing with him,” said Celtics guard Derrick White.
Tatum’s return bolsters a Celtics team that enters Friday with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, and fourth-best in the NBA overall.
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