Jayson Tatum’s 2024–25 season came to a halt in May when he tore his Achilles tendon late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. The Boston Celtics star had already scored 39 points in the game before collapsing while chasing a loose ball.
The Celtics lost 121-113, fell behind 3-1 in the series, and their franchise cornerstone was ruled out for the remainder of the postseason. It was a crushing blow for Tatum, who had averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across 72 games and earned his sixth All-Star selection.
Surgery quickly followed, beginning a lengthy rehabilitation process that continues to shape Boston’s outlook for the 2025–26 season.
Processing the Moment
When he collapsed chasing the loose ball in New York, the moment stretched out beyond the play — teammates, trainers, and fans all realized something had gone terribly wrong before anyone knew how bad it would be. For a player who had so often been the solution, the injury instantly felt like a question about identity, future, and everything that followed one simple sound.
Tatum reflected on the injury’s immediate impact and how quickly his thoughts shifted.
“I got drafted in New York, I tore my Achilles in New York. New York will be part of my life forever,” Tatum told Sports Illustrated.
He recalled realizing the severity of what had just happened.
“I heard it pop and I knew as soon as I fell on the floor,” he said. “It was just kind of like my whole basketball career kind of flashed in front of my eyes.”
“My first game back WILL BE at TD Garden”
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 23, 2025
– @jaytatum0 sends a message to @celtics fans❤️☘️ pic.twitter.com/F1GALPApEu
The six-time All-Star admitted the moment forced him to confront doubts about his future.
“All perspective and reality goes out the window in that moment,” he emphasized. “I know they love me, but they might feel like, ‘Yo, we got to move on.’ That really went through my mind. That this might have been the last time I wear this uniform.”
Tatum said he broke down once the reality of the injury sank in.
“And I just broke down crying. I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ This time yesterday I was trying to win a playoff game, and now it’s like I’m about to have surgery,” he said.
He admitted the aftermath left him in a dark place.
“I was in a dark place,” he admitted. “At night I would wake up and just stare at my foot. Just wondering how this could happen to me. I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”
Rehab and Recovery
Tatum underwent surgery in May and began a rigorous six-day-a-week rehab program. Four months later, he acknowledged he won’t be ready when the Celtics open training camp or start the regular season.
“Our first practice is a week from today and I won’t be able to be out there with the team,” he told CBS Sports. “I won’t be out there to start the season. That’s been a tough pill to swallow and something I’ve been working through every day.”
He said he has learned to find optimism in the process.
“I could see that there was a light at the end of this tunnel. And there’s just a bunch of days like that kind of stack up with each other,” he said.
They tried to punk Jayson Tatum when he was a sophomore in HS 👀 pic.twitter.com/zOPGApqg2M
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 4, 2025
Jayson Tatum Won’t Rule Out Playing in 2025-2026 Season
The forward added that the long layoff has allowed him to rebuild his body in ways he couldn’t during a normal season.
“It sounds ironic to say, but this is the best that my body and the strongest that I’ve felt really kind of in my career,” he explained. “I’ve never had this block of time to just focus on getting stronger and getting your body right.”
Tatum has resisted setting a firm return date but hasn’t closed the door on playing this year.
“I haven’t said I’m coming back, and I haven’t said that I’m not,” he told Sports Illustrated. “I might not come back this year, but I need to feel like I’m attacking something, I’m working towards something.”
On ESPN’s First Take, he said he has leaned on other NBA stars who suffered the same injury, including Dejounte Murray, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton.
“We’ve all been in communication … Dejounte, Dame, Tyrese… we’re all at different points in our recovery,” Tatum said. “I text them all the time to ask what can you do, and what are you doing in your workouts. We’re all in the same boat, just kind of checking in on each other.”
Celtics’ Adjustments
While Tatum focuses on his recovery, Boston reshaped its roster in the offseason by trading Kristaps Porziņģis to Atlanta and Jrue Holiday to Portland while adding Anfernee Simons. Tatum said he believes the group is capable of competing.
“I do have the utmost faith in our team,” he told CBS Sports. “I’m really excited about the team that we have. There’s an opportunity for guys to have larger roles.”
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are expected to take on bigger responsibilities in his absence. Brown averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in the final 10 games without Tatum last season.
Before the injury, Tatum put together another elite campaign, cementing himself as one of the league’s top players with his sixth All-Star nod. For now, he continues to approach rehab with the competitiveness that defines his game.
“The most important thing is a full recovery. And I’m not rushing it at all,” Tatum said. “But also, I don’t go to rehab six days a week for nothing.”
The Celtics open the season Oct. 22 at home against the Philadelphia 76ers.
