The Boston Celtics were already expected to make some changes this offseason because of salary cap issues, but things took a much more serious turn after Jayson Tatum went down with what looks like a major injury, a possible torn Achilles, during Game 4 of their playoff series against the New York Knicks.
Tatum got hurt late in the game without making any contact with another player, which is often a sign of an Achilles injury. He couldn’t stand or walk on his leg and had to be taken away in a wheelchair. The replay showed all the classic signs, a sudden collapse, pain in the lower leg, and no impact from anyone else. It’s the kind of injury that can drastically change a team’s plans.
Before the injury, Boston was already on the verge of falling behind 3-1 in the series, but with Tatum possibly out for a long time, their chances of turning things around dropped even further. And now, the Celtics not only have to think about this season slipping away but also how Tatum’s injury might affect the next one.
How long will Jayson Tatum be out?
If it is a torn Achilles, the recovery timeline is typically around 10 months for NBA players. Some might return in as little as 7 months, but for many, it takes up to a year. The fastest return on record was 7.5 months, which was Wesley Matthews back in 2015. Even if Tatum heals quickly, he likely wouldn’t be back until early 2026. If he takes the average 10-month path, the Celtics may not see him again until March, and that means missing most of the regular season.
Although Achilles injuries were once considered career-ending, that’s no longer the case. Thanks to modern medicine and rehab, players do return, and return strong. Kevin Durant, for example, came back from his Achilles tear in 2019 and hasn’t skipped a beat. The good news is that Tatum is still young at 27, which gives him an edge in healing well. The downside? It’s still his first serious injury, and the Celtics will have to plan for a long stretch without their star.
Depending on how the Celtics perform next season without Tatum, they might even choose to sit him out for the entire year, especially if the team struggles early on. That’s what the Brooklyn Nets did with Durant, keeping him on the bench for the entire 2019-2020 season, even after he was physically ready to return.
Jayson Tatum’s injury track record
Up until now, Tatum has been one of the most durable players in the league. In his eight-year career, he’s never missed more than five games in a row, and even that was due to COVID, not an injury. He’s had minor issues here and there, like a sore wrist that made him miss a playoff game this year, but nothing close to this level.
This Achilles injury marks a major turning point. Not only is it Tatum’s first serious time away from the game, but it also puts a big question mark over the Celtics’ future. With their star sidelined, Boston’s title hopes for both 2025 and 2026 suddenly look a lot shakier.
