"Jayson Tatum Still Unsure on Return this Season Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, collapsing onto the hardwood, along with the Celtics' chances of repeating as champions. That was May 12 of last year - a domino set Boston up for what many expected to be a down season. They traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis and didn't re-sign Luke Kornet. It felt like the beginning of a reset. Yet that script never came to life."
"Instead, the Celtics find themselves sitting as the second seed in the East, with a very real shot at winning the conference, all without their franchise superstar and their championship-winning core. Credit Joe Mazzulla, who managed to get his entire roster to fully embrace the "next-man-up" mentality. Jaylen Brown, meanwhile, elevated himself from a controversial Finals MVP selection to a top-three name in the regular-season MVP race."
"Now imagine that group, one that also made improvements at the trade deadline, adding Tatum back into the fold. And that possibility is starting to feel real. Tatum, who has been making an impeccable recovery, recently participated in five-on-five practice with the Celtics' G League affiliate. He's also been working with NBC to document his return, while the Celtics' matchup against the Sixers was suddenly picked up for national TV, only adding fuel to the growing belief that March 1 could mark his comeback."
The final stretch of the 2025-26 NBA season begins with a ten-game slate and storylines driven by the playoffs, the offseason, and the NBA Draft. Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles last May and remains a potential late-season return after rigorous recovery and five-on-five work with the Celtics' G League affiliate. The Celtics reached second seed despite roster changes and embraced a next-man-up approach under Joe Mazzulla, with Jaylen Brown emerging as an MVP contender. Tatum's possible March 1 comeback gained momentum after national TV attention, but he remains reportedly unsure about returning this season. Kevin Durant drama and cryptic Giannis comments add further intrigue.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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