Overview
- ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the team has not ruled Tatum out for 2025–26 and that he has told the Celtics he plans to play.
- Tatum posted a two‑handed dunk from a standstill roughly 150 days after his Achilles tear, following recent on‑court drills and box jumps noted by a teammate.
- Brad Stevens reiterated there is “no timeline,” and the Celtics kept Tatum out of preseason action as he continues rehabilitation.
- Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Portland’s Damian Lillard were ruled out for the season after similar playoff Achilles injuries, underscoring how unusual a same‑season return would be.
- Boston has not applied for a hardship waiver on Tatum, and any return decision will require multiple medical clearances and could depend on the team’s position later in the season.