The Boston Celtics are gearing up for training camp after a challenging offseason in which several key pieces from their 2024 championship roster moved on.
After Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Boston opted for a roster reset amid looming financial constraints. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were both traded in cost-cutting moves, Luke Kornet signed with the San Antonio Spurs in free agency and veteran big man Al Horford isn’t expected to return.
With Tatum sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Celtics will rely on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White to lead the squad. Still, Tatum has been working tirelessly to come back from his Achilles injury and has yet to rule out a return during the 2025-26 campaign.
MORE: Celtics insiders share Jayson Tatum injury update from coach Joe Mazzulla
Jayson Tatum ‘on the road to getting back’
Tatum earned his fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team selection in 2024-25 before suffering the devastating Achilles injury in the playoffs. Now, he’s focused on returning to full strength. In a recent interview with Eileen Finan of People, Tatum discussed the rehabilitation process and the intense effort he’s putting in to get back on the court.
“It’s been a long journey,” he said. “I’m on the road to getting back. And it’s the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life.”
Tatum’s orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Martin O’Malley, also told People that the recovery has exceeded expectations, thanks to Tatum’s relentless work ethic.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a person’s calf look as strong as his,” O’Malley said. “At six or eight weeks he was doing double heel raises. He worked his calf so hard that the side effect of loss of strength, I don’t think he’s going to have any.”
The Celtics are not expected to rush Tatum back from the ruptured Achilles, though his progress suggests a potential return this season is possible. Even if the 27-year-old doesn’t play in the 2025-26 campaign, his rehabilitation is going well, which is a promising sign for a full comeback.
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