Jan. 29, 2026, 12:07 p.m. ET
Could the Boston Celtics end up playing all of the 2025-26 NBA regular season without star forward Jayson Tatum after all? NBA TV’s Chris Haynes recently reported that the St. Louis native is having mixed feelings about a potential NBA return this season, saying “As it pertains to the Boston Celtics and Jason Tatum in particular, it was always a foregone conclusion that Tatum was going to try to give it a go and return at some point during the season after suffering that Achilles tear.”
Now, however, Haynes paints a different picture of the situation based on what he has been hearing. “Tatum is now reevaluating his situation, and it is up in the air whether he’s going to return at all this season,” related the reporter. “I was told that there are a couple of factors of why he’s reached that point,” continued Haynes. “But as of right now, that changes the whole landscape, because Tatum even told me personally, months back, he was returning, returning at some point he was getting ready to return and it was getting close.”
“I was hearing it was getting close, and at least sources informed me that the situation has changed, and now it is up in the air if he’s going to return or not,” added the veteran reporter.
This of course sends shockwaves through the expectations of fans and analysts who have taken the return of the Duke alum this season as a given barring an unexpected setback. The reasoning is unclear, but could represent medical concerns including such a setback, worry about fit, the amount of time remaining to be integrated with the new style of play favored by the team, or other, unknown reasons.
But whatever the issue, Tatum should not return to the court until he feels ready, no matter the reason. People from fans to his teammates may project their own wants and desires onto Tatum.
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But he is the one who will have to live with whatever he decides, and that ought to be respected.
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