Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has given the team renewed hope by returning ahead of the playoffs, and the Celtics are only getting stronger as he regains momentum. Tatum has now played 15 games since making his long-awaited return from an Achilles injury, averaging 21.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 41.2% from the field.
Tatum suffered the injury last year during the NBA playoffs in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, when he ruptured his right Achilles tendon at Madison Square Garden and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. The Celtics subsequently lost the series in six games.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drives to the basket against Jaime Jaquez Jr. at Kaseya Center. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
(Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Since returning, Tatum has impressed on the court. After helping Boston defeat the Charlotte Hornets 113–102 on Tuesday at TD Garden, the Celtics are scheduled to play the Knicks on the road Thursday night. Tatum, however, admitted he is not thrilled about returning to Madison Square Garden.
“I thought about it. I’m not like thrilled to go back and play there. Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me. Obviously, I knew, at some point, I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again,” he said before confirming that he will play but will sit out Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Celtics and Tatum were cruising along last year and eyeing to win their second consecutive NBA championship when the star forward went down late in the fourth quarter of Game 4 at MSG, and he immediately knew something serious had happened.
“Being a basketball player, we understand movements related to certain injuries. When I pushed off, I could hear it pop. It felt like somebody kicked me, but I knew nobody was behind me,” Tatum told Healthline. “So immediately when I heard it, I fell and I grabbed my calf and I knew what just happened.”
But the most difficult moments came after his surgery, as he began to grapple with the weight of his injury and the uncertainty it cast over his future.
“And for a while, I was kind of like — it may sound dramatic, but I remember telling my mom, like ‘Mom, I might be done. I don’t know if I’ll be able to overcome this or if I’m up for this challenge.’ You know, I just felt defeated. And there was a time I was like, I don’t know if I want to do this anymore,” he told NBC.
However, by September, Tatum was back on the court. After missing the first 62 games of the season, he returned on March 6 to a standing ovation from the Boston crowd, debuting against the Dallas Mavericks with 15 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes.
While the Celtics were expected to take a step back in his absence, Jaylen Brown and the rest of the team defied expectations. Brown’s numbers have only improved with Tatum’s return, and Boston now sits second in the Eastern Conference, looking dangerous heading into the playoffs.
Related: Jayson Tatum Receives Career News on Monday
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.