Jayson Tatum has ticked another box on his Achilles comeback checklist.<\/p>\n
In a team statement, the Celtics announced Tatum would be \u201cassigned to participate in portions of the Maine Celtics practice at the Auerbach Center\u201d on Monday afternoon. Maine is Boston\u2019s G League team.<\/p>\n
After the practice, Tatum \u201cwill be immediately recalled to the Boston Celtics, where he will continue his rehab process,\u201d the team said.<\/p>\n
Rookies Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams also were assigned to participate in the workout with Tatum, who has made steady progress in the nearly nine months since he underwent surgery last May to repair his ruptured Achilles tendon.<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania reported Sunday that Tatum had begun \u201ccontrolled 5-on-5 scrimmaging<\/a> with coaches.\u201d Practicing with and against other players, even in a limited capacity, is the next step in his rehab process.<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s announcement was the Celtics\u2019 first official statement on Tatum\u2019s status since their confirmation last spring that he had undergone successful surgery. The team remained mum on when the All-NBA wing might return to game action, saying: \u201cNo additional information regarding Tatum\u2019s recovery is available at this time; further updates will be provided as appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n In a news conference Sunday, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said Tatum \u201cstill has a ways to go\u201d<\/a> in his recovery. The team, Stevens said, is putting \u201cno pressure\u201d on the 27-year-old to return before he is \u201c110% healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n But this latest update could mean he is getting close.<\/p>\n