Jayson Tatum trains with the Maine Celtics and nears return
Feb 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum stands on the court during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Jayson Tatum continues to progress in his rehabilitation and is nearing a return to the court. The Boston Celtics star, absent since his Achilles tendon rupture in May 2025, was assigned to the Maine Celtics on Monday, according to an official team statement.
A crucial step in the return process
Jayson Tatum took another step forward this week, logging portions of a practice with Boston’s G League affiliate at the Auerbach Center in Brighton alongside guard Hugo Gonzalez and center Amari Williams. After the session, Tatum was immediately recalled by the Boston Celtics to continue his rehab progression.
The update follows reporting from Shams Charania of ESPN that Tatum has already been involved in “controlled 5-on-5 scrimmages” with coaches and members of the Celtics’ Stay Ready Group. Taken together, the signs point to a return that may come sooner than initially expected.
An Achilles rupture typically comes with a long, cautious timeline, but Tatum has consistently been ahead of pace. He shared videos of himself dunking back in October and last month completed a full hour-long workout in front of reporters in Detroit—quiet markers that his recovery has been tracking well beyond the baseline.
Reporting for ABC NBA Countdown — the latest on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s rehab: pic.twitter.com/hjtj2PsLoj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2026
Brad Stevens’ precautions and Tatum’s mindset
Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Celtics, remains cautious regarding his star’s return. « The best time for Jayson Tatum to come back is when he’s 110% healthy, when he’s fully cleared by everyone who matters in that decision, and when he has complete peace of mind and is ready to do it, » Stevens said Friday.
Tatum himself expresses some reservations about returning this season. « It’s something I think about every day, » he confided on ‘The Pivot’ podcast. « Particularly regarding the team. If or when I come back this season, they will have played about fifty games without me, so they have an identity this year or things that have clicked for them. »
The Celtics currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 34 wins and 19 losses, just behind the conference leading Detroit Pistons. According to Charania, Tatum « wants to come back when he feels like he’s Jayson Tatum. Not if he’s just a shadow of himself. Not if he’s just a lesser percentage of himself. »
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