The Boston Celtics are facing a potential gap year after a disappointing summer.
Following Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles in the team’s Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Knicks, the club retooled its roster to maneuver below the dreaded second apron. Now, Boston enters the 2025-26 campaign with a team that may be missing Tatum for the entire season.
Still, Tatum has reportedly been working extremely hard in his rehabilitation process, and it would be premature to rule him out for the entire season just yet. Considering the magnitude of his injury, the Celtics won’t rush the superstar forward back until they feel he’s completely ready. Despite that, he’s seemingly doing everything he can to get back on the court for Boston.
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Coach Joe Mazzulla gives promising Jayson Tatum news
Celtics insiders Marc Bertrand and Scott Zolak, the co-hosts of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand radio show, shared part of a conversation they had with Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla over dinner recently. According to Mazzulla, Tatum has been going above and beyond.
“The Celtics are very happy with how hard Jayson Tatum has been working at his rehab, and his level of focus and intensity in the rehab process. He did not leave town; he has been here the entire time. … He’s doing things that nobody asked him to do,” they said.
The Celtics will lean on Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Anfernee Simons with Tatum sidelined, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tatum return for a potential playoff run.
Boston has a relatively underwhelming frontcourt group aside from Brown at small forward, so it’s hard to imagine the team being contenders. Still, the Eastern Conference appears wide open.
Boston won’t look to rush his rehabilitation, but Tatum’s progress suggests the team’s outlook for the 2026-27 campaign is bright — especially if the organization can develop internally and land improved pieces in free agency next summer.
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