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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after their 132-106 win over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics are navigating uncharted territory.
Boston sits at 30-18, third in the Eastern Conference, having been without Jayson Tatum for the entire season. The All-Star forward ruptured his Achilles tendon last May, and for months the assumption was clear. He would eventually return. The original timeline placed his recovery at eight to nine months, a window that arrived in late January.
Then the uncertainty arrived with it.
Tatum appeared on The Pivot Podcast this week and acknowledged he is re-evaluating whether to play at all this season. The comments caught attention. Head coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed there has been no physical setback, meaning the hesitation is about timing, integration, and whether a mid-season return makes sense given how well Boston has played without him.
Now, two teammates have weighed in.
ICYMI: Jayson Tatum is re-evaluating a return this season, per @ChrisBHaynes
The report follows his interview with The Pivot Podcast, where he said he doesn’t want to disrupt the Celtics’ success this season and admitted he’s contemplating whether he comes back
Derrick White Reacts To Tatum’s Comments
GettyDerrick White, Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics.
Derrick White was asked about Tatum’s comments and the possibility he might not return.
“He’s been working so hard to get his mind, get his body back healthy, and at the end of the day, we just want the best for him,” White told Real Bob Manning.
It was not a dramatic answer. It was an honest one.
White has been around this core long enough to understand what Tatum brings. But his response reflected something that has defined the Celtics all season. They want him back, but only when he is ready.
Mazzulla confirmed earlier this week that the re-evaluation is not about complications. Tatum has hit his marks in the weight room, in strength and conditioning, in physical therapy. He has traveled with the team, attended film sessions, sat on the bench during games. The work has continued.
But the decision to play is his.
White made it clear the team will support whatever Tatum chooses. There is no pressure. There is no timeline being forced. Boston has managed without him, and if he needs more time, they will keep managing.
Derrick White reacts to Jayson Tatum’s comments about potentially not returning this season with @RealBobManning: “He’s been working so hard to get his mind, get his body back healthy, and at the end of the day, we just want the best for him.”
Payton Pritchard Weighs In On Tatum’s Return
GettyPayton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics.
Payton Pritchard took a more direct approach when asked the same question.
“We definitely want him back, because we know what type of player he is,” Pritchard said. “And, you know, it’d definitely put us over the top with him back in the lineup.”
There have been no conversations about reintegrating Tatum yet. That makes sense. He has not made a final decision, and the Celtics have been consistent about their approach all year. He returns when he is ready, not before.
But Pritchard did not pretend otherwise. Adding Tatum to a roster already sitting third in the East would change everything.
Pritchard has shouldered more responsibility this season. He has been Boston’s most consistent scoring threat off the bench and has started when needed. His role has expanded in ways it never had before.
Still, he knows what Tatum means. So does everyone else watching.
The question now is whether that return happens before the playoffs or whether Tatum waits until September, giving himself nearly 17 months of recovery before returning to game action.
Payton Pritchard says there hasn’t been any conversations about reintegrating Jayson Tatum, but they want him back:
“We definitely want him back, because we know what type of player he is. And, you know, it’d definitely put us over the top with him back in the lineup.”
The Celtics Keep Rolling Without Tatum
The Celtics have not just survived. They have thrived.
Friday night against Sacramento was another example. Jaylen Brown missed the game with left hamstring tightness and a right knee contusion. Boston started Baylor Scheierman in his place and never looked back.
Pritchard led the way with 29 points and 8 assists. He went 9-of-11 from the floor in the first half and finished 4-of-5 from three-point range. By halftime, Boston led 72-46, and the game was effectively decided.
Neemias Queta added 10 points and 15 rebounds against his former team. Scheierman contributed 16 points in his second strong performance this week. The Celtics shot 45 percent from the field and controlled the game from start to finish.
It was the kind of performance that has defined this season. When one player goes down, someone else steps up. The rotation stays fluid, the offense remains efficient, and the defense holds.
Brown has been the engine. He is averaging 29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game and earned his first All-Star starting nod. White has played at a fringe All-Star level. The supporting cast has been steady.
Final Word for the Celtics
Jayson Tatum has not made a final decision.
White and Pritchard offered different tones, but both landed in the same place. They want what is best for Tatum. They want him back when the time is right.
Boston next faces Milwaukee on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST. Brown’s status remains uncertain, but the Celtics have adjusted all season when needed.
If Tatum returns, Boston becomes one of the most dangerous teams in the league. If he waits until next year, they will keep doing what they have done all season.
The foundation has been built. Whether Tatum rejoins it now or later, the Celtics are not slowing down.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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