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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will reportedly make his return during Friday's (March 5) game against the Dallas Mavericks, less than 10 months after undergoing surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
"BREAKING: Boston Celtics All-NBA star Jayson Tatum will play this season and could make his debut on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks – less than 10 months after surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon," Charania wrote on his X account Thursday (March 4). "There's an expectation that Jayson Tatum will make his 2025-26 season debut for the Boston Celtics on Friday night at TD Garden versus Dallas, sources tell ESPN. Tatum has been described as ready to go and will inform the Celtics of a final decision over the next day."
Tatum, 27, suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of the Celtics' Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks with just over three minutes left in the game. The six-time All-Star recorded a playoff-best 42 points, as well as eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks prior to exiting the game.
Tatum was one year removed from winning his first NBA championship at the time of his injury. The Celtics have gone 34-19 through their first 53 games of the 82-game 2025-26 season and currently rank third in the Eastern Conference standings, tied with the Atlantic Division rival Knicks but have one more conference loss and two less division wins.
Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists last season, finishing fourth in MVP voting and has averaged 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his first eight NBA seasons.