Jayson Tatum has hit a new stage in his road to recovery from a season-ending Achilles injury. Shortly after progressing to controlled 5-on-5 scrimmages against coaching staff, the 27-year-old forward has been cleared for more action.
The Boston Celtics announced that Tatum will be assigned to their G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, to participate in Monday’s team practice at the Auerbach Center. Tatum will then be immediately recalled to Boston following the practice session.
It is reported that Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams will also be participating in the session. Both players are in their rookie seasons with the Celtics.
What’s Next?
Tatum suffered his Achilles injury during the Celtics’ 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the New York Knicks. He finished with averages of 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists over 72 regular-season games.
Despite Tatum being sidelined throughout this season, the Celtics have excelled on the court. With a 34-19 record, Boston holds the third spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Jaylen Brown has been a top contributor to Boston’s recent success, averaging 29.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over 48 games. He was named an Eastern Conference starter for the NBA’s upcoming All-Star Game.
With the likes of Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Nikola Vucevic, Tatum will be looking to rejoin a Celtics team with serious championship ambitions. Still, the looming concern will be whether the six-time All-Star might return too soon.
Other top NBA stars recovering from an Achilles injury include Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. Both players are expected to miss the entirety of this season.
While there is no set timetable for Tatum to make his season debut, his brief assignment to the G League indicates that the recovery process is moving forward. With the playoffs approaching in April, Tatum has a few more months before needing to make a big decision.