Jayson Tatum hit an important benchmark in his recovery from an Achilles tear Monday, as the Boston Celtics sent him to take part in the G League affiliate Maine Celtics’ practice in Boston.
The team said in a statement that after Tatum participates in “portions of” Maine’s practice, he will immediately be recalled to Boston to continue his rehab process with the Celtics.
The Celtics’ statement did not give any further details about Tatum’s timeline to return to game action.
Tatum suffered his Achilles tendon tear during the Eastern Conference semifinals last May against the New York Knicks.
Tatum was an All-Star each of the past six years, and in the past four MVP races he finished fourth in balloting twice and sixth twice. He averaged 26.8 points along with career highs of 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in 2024-25.
Without Tatum available for most or all of this season, the Celtics were not expected to be competitive. But Jaylen Brown’s career year has helped them start 34-19, tied for second in the East with the Knicks.
Brown is fourth in the NBA in scoring at 29.4 points per game and also has career-high averages in rebounding (6.9) and assists (4.7). Tatum himself said on a recent podcast appearance that he was concerned trying to return late in the year would upset the Celtics’ current chemistry.
Brad Stevens, Boston’s president of basketball operations, sees it another way.
“Obviously, any team with Jayson Tatum’s going to be better,” Stevens said Friday. “If he needs it, I’ll tell him every day. Because every team — all 30 of us — would be way, way better with him on the team.”
The Celtics also assigned Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams to practice with Tatum and the Maine Celtics on Monday.
