The Boston Celtics have several unknowns heading into the season, including whether forward Jayson Tatum will return from his torn Achilles tendon.
Tatum has been making strides in his efforts to return to the court this season. He posted a video on X this Thursday, where he jumped up and executed a two-handed dunk.
Reporters asked head coach Joe Mazzulla how he reacted to seeing Tatum dunk and whether he feels more optimistic about Tatum’s return this season.
“It doesn’t make me any more optimistic or pessimistic, it is what it is,” Mazzulla said Friday, via Celtics on CLNS. “He’s doing a great job on and off the court with his leadership and attacking every day.”
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Mazzulla has supported Tatum throughout his recovery, so watching a video of him dunking probably didn’t change his view on Tatum’s progress.
“It’s your responsibility as a coach to be there for your guys, so whenever I could lift with him, whenever I could be there for treatment, whenever I could rebound for him, I think it was important to do that,” Mazzulla said on Sept. 29. “As a guy that’s going through stuff, you have to know that you’re going through it together, and I think that’s a piece that’s important.”
Tatum still has a long way to go in his recovery, but all signs suggest he could return by the NBA playoffs.
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