A basketball scout has provided an encouraging update on Jayson Tatum‘s recovery from a ruptured Achilles.
Heavy.com’s Steve Bulpett reported on Thursday that he heard from a scout who saw Tatum partake as an instructor in the Elite Camp, a basketball camp featuring top college and high school prospects, in Las Vegas this week. And the scout came away impressed with how the Boston Celtics star was moving around the gym without a walking boot, according to Bulpett.
“He was moving really well,” the scout told Bulpett. “There might have been a slight limp or something, but the surprising thing to me is that he didn’t have a boot for any of it.
“I’m no doctor, but I’ve seen guys coming back from Achilles’ tears, and he looked way ahead. I was kind of shocked to see how well he was moving. I have no idea for what any of this means for when he can come back. I’m sure him and the Celtics’ medical people have their program set up, and they’ll make sure that he’s where he needs to be when he does get back. But he looks great right now.”
The scout added that while Tatum wasn’t jogging or running, he looked to be “in great shape” and “had no trouble doing his part at the camp.”
Tatum is now well over two months removed from undergoing surgery to repair his ruptured right Achilles tendon. He suffered the injury in a second-round playoff game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12 and had surgery the following day.
In early July, Tatum shared a glimpse of his rehab on social media with images of him in the gym and a video of him in the pool. A few days later, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said Tatum was progressing at an “incredible” rate.
The Celtics have not put a timeline on Tatum’s return to the court, though he hasn’t been officially ruled out for all of next season.
