The Boston Celtics have turned a lot of heads this season.
Many people thought the Boston Celtics were going to take a step back and this was going to be a gap year for them.
However, the Celtics have been able to perform well without their superstar Jayson Tatum.
The Celtics are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winners of five games in a row and they sit in the 3rd spot in the Eastern Conference.
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Joe Mazzulla keeps it honest about Jayson Tatum’s potential return
Coming into the season there was little hope that Tatum would come back from the Achilles injury he suffered in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks.
It was believed that the Celtics were just going to keep him out for the season and come back stronger next year.
However, Tatum has been making great progress during his rehab and he looks well ahead of schedule.
Tatum has been posting updates on his recovery on social media and he looks like he is ready to return at some point this season.
Joe Mazzulla was asked about Tatum’s potential return.
“It’s all up to him…all starts about where him and his team think he’s at.
“To me, the only thing I care about is his presence, his leadership.”
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
If Jayson Tatum returns this season it changes everything for the Boston Celtics
The Celtics have already shown they can beat the top teams in the East without Tatum.
If the Celtics remain in the top-4 of the East and Tatum returns before the playoffs, they could go on to win the East.
Boston likely needs another big man, which is something they can address at the deadline, but they would be back in business when it comes to winning another title if Tatum returns.
That is a big if and the Celtics will certainly take things slow with him. However, with the way Tatum is looking it appears he’s eyeing a return to action sooner rather than later.