In Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals, Celtics F Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles. About nine months into recovery, the six-time All-Star appeared in G-League practice last week.
Buzz has followed, as questions surround whether Tatum will get back on the court for games this season. Will Boston (35-19) get its top player back in the rotation ahead of the playoffs?
Let’s look at what the latest Jayson Tatum injury update could mean for a potential return to NBA action, as well as how it may impact player projections for PrizePicks.
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Jayson Tatum Injury Update: When Will Tatum Return?
On Friday, Celtics G Ron Harper Jr. commented on the star forward’s practice, saying, “He looked like Jayson Tatum. I’ll say that much.” He also stated Tatum’s return for the 2025-26 season is still uncertain, though.
In an interview last week, the Duke product emphasized the unclear status. Recent news feels like cautious optimism. While Tatum drew glowing reviews from his G-League practice, there’s still no commitment to a return this season.
He would certainly be a huge boost to the Celtics, who are second in the Eastern Conference standings. According to PrizePicks Team Picks, Boston is the third-favorite to win the East (3.84x) and is tied for the fifth-favorite to win the NBA Finals (10x).
In the 2024-25 season, Tatum led the Celtics with 26.8 points per game (PPG), 8.7 rebounds per game (RPG), and 6.0 assists per game (APG). Plus, the 6’8” forward topped the team by shooting 20.3 field goals per game, and his 10.1 triple attempts per matchup spearheaded last year's most potent 3-point attack.
Since the 2020-21 campaign, Tatum earned six consecutive All-Star appearances while averaging at least 26.0 PPG each year. Boston could immediately become an NBA Finals contender if one of basketball’s best returns to action.
Celtics Players to Target With Tatum Out
For now, the lineup will continue to operate without Tatum’s lofty contributions. In his absence, Celtics F Jaylen Brown is on pace to record career highs with 29.3 PPG and 22.6 shots per game. He even boasts a team-high 37.1% usage rate, per FantasyLabs.
While Tatum’s high 3-point usage is out of the lineup, Boston still shoots treys in bulk — ranked fifth in 3-point shot distribution, via Dunks & Threes. With that said, the lineup’s specialists continue to draw attention for player picks, including G Derrick White (8.8 attempted triples per game) and G Payton Pritchard (7.2).
Brown hoists an average of 6.0 shots from deep, slightly ahead of last season’s 5.7 mark. He takes 39.0% of his shots within 10 feet of the rim. Boston landed C Nikola Vucevic (13.7 PPG on the Celtics) at the NBA trade deadline, and he shoots 4.0 treys per game and 48.3% of his looks from within 10 feet of the rim.
If Boston faces a weak interior defense, Brown and Vucevic could be potential point projection targets. White and Pritchard, meanwhile, provide angles from beyond the arc.
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While Tatum made a major stride last week, the Celtics remain noncommittal to a return. His high usage from the 2024-25 season could cause a shift for player projections, but for now, it’s business as usual. Brown, the five-time All-Star, continues to pick up the slack as Boston’s most-featured player.
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