Ironically, the Boston Celtics‘ success this season without Jayson Tatum has only added firewood to the burning expectation for Tatum’s return. As Boston has started the 2025-26 campaign with a notable 14-9 record (and appear to be improving weekly), the notion of this group being lottery-worthy is beyond laughable, and the playoffs are on every Celtics fan’s menu.
So is a Tatum return before the end of the regular season, especially for fans that have been tracking Tatum’s recovery and his early-season comments that he’s aiming to come back before the campaign’s up.
What’s most important, though, is Tatum’s long-term health. That’s why it’s foolish to lean too heavily into the expectation that he’ll be back this season, an expectation that can easily — and dangerously — transform into an inappropriate pressure.
That hasn’t stopped fans and pundits from constantly talking about Tatum’s possible return.
Chief among them, no surprise, is The Ringer’s guru Bill Simmons, who recently discussed Tatum during a new episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast.
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Simmons said he basically fully expects Tatum to return in 2025-26, and he pointed out that Miami Heat guard Dru Smith, who tore his Achilles in late Decemeber of 2024, is already back playing NBA basketball for Miami.
Smith made his return to the court on October 22, about 10 months since the date of his Achilles tear.
“Smith’s already playing with the same injury,” Simmons said. “These could be eight, nine month (recoveries) … from everything I’ve heard … (Tatum) has been relentless and (a) maniac, and passed every check point. He’s done everything possible to come back as soon as possible … and they’re understandably being careful, but at some point, it’s like, if he’s ready to play, let’s play him.”
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“What are we waiting for?” Simmons continued. “We might be like a five- or a six-seed. … I feel more confident than ever, with the way this team has responded, that he’s gonna be back.”
Despite Tatum’s miraculous recovery and commitment to returning, not to mention Boston’s impressive season so far, this all still feels off-key when it comes to prioritizing what matters most.
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The notion of ‘what are we waiting for’ seems a bit harsh when we’re talking about the long-term injury risk of a player, who is a franchise centerpiece, no less.
The Celtics’ leadership (Rich Gotham, Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla) has handled the narrative around Tatum’s return with more effectiveness and grace. Basically, they’ve held all year long that they have no expectations for JT to come back at any point this year, and if and when that time comes, they’ll start evaluating things and discussing things then.
It’s hard not to get caught up in expectations for Tatum’s return. But the right and productive thing to do is continue to assume he’s not coming back in 2025-26, and plan accordingly. By the way, that stance also helps you enjoy what the current group is doing all the more.
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