Jayson Tatum has been sidelined since he ruptured his right Achilles tendon on May 12. It is the kind of injury that can threaten a player’s career, yet Tatum has surprised almost everyone with his recovery.
With videos of his progress circulating and fans impressed by how strong the Boston Celtics forward already looks, many have started to wonder whether he might return before the season ends. Recently, head coach Joe Mazzulla shared an important update on where things stand.
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Mazzulla made it clear that he cannot speak for Tatum or predict when he might return to the lineup. He also emphasized that neither he nor the coaching staff is placing any pressure on Tatum to rush the process.
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“It’s all up to him,” Mazzulla said. “At the end of the day, his health is the most important thing, his process is the most important thing. You trust him, trust the team that’s around him — he’s got a great team — and you just kind of go from there. So kind of just all starts about where he and his team think he’s at.”
“There’s people above me that are responsible for that. It’s not my job. My job is to just support him, be there for them, listen to them, and at the end of the day, you trust the people that are around him.”
Right now, the Celtics are not under any real pressure to bring Jayson Tatum back quickly. Even without him, the team boasts the third-best record in the East with 15 wins in 24 games.
Earlier in the offseason and in the early part of the regular season, Tatum impressed the basketball world by returning to the gym and getting shots up only five months after the injury. More recently, he stunned fans again when a video surfaced of him playing one-on-one at the Celtics’ practice facility, moving in a way that looked very close to game shape.
Joe Mazzulla explains how Jayson Tatum can contribute to the team despite injury
Despite being injured, Jayson Tatum is still traveling with the team, taking part in practices and sitting on the bench during games. Joe Mazzulla sees real value in Tatum staying close to the group. He believes that even while sidelined, Tatum can make an impact by embracing a mentor role.
“To me, the only thing I care about is his presence and his leadership, and he’s given that in different ways — on the floor in games, communicating with guys, in film sessions, traveling with us,” Mazzulla said. “At the end of the day, he’s on our team. He’s a part of our team. He’s helping us get better, and then everything else just comes down to him and the people around him, and you just trust that.”
While Jayson Tatum provides a steady voice off the court, Jaylen Brown has become the on-court leading figure. He has been putting up All-NBA level numbers, averaging 29.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
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Edited by Advait Jajodia