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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first half of the game against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on January 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Jayson Tatum has returned for the Boston Celtics just 300 days after tearing his Achilles tendon in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and while he does add a new dimension to the team, the return of the 28-year-old has come with some struggles.
Specifically, as it relates to shooting the ball and the Celtics immediately slotting Tatum back in as the team’s second option behind MVP candidate and All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown, who has proven he can lead a franchise on his own this year.
In eight games this season, Tatum is averaging 19.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 38.8/29.3/85.2 shooting splits. Still strong considering the injury he’s coming back from, but Boston putting him in a different role before the postseason could help them see more success regarding a deep run.
Celtics Urged To Make LeBron James Decision On Jayson Tatum
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 23: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles away from Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during a 117-96 Lakers win at Crypto.com Arena on January 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Writing for ESPN detailing some of the early injury return struggles facing Tatum on this iteration of the Celtics, Tim McMahon was told by an unnamed Western Conference scout that Boston should consider putting the forward into a similar role that LeBron James has started playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Recently, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that the team and James would be better suited with him as the third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Since that decision, Los Angeles has only looked more like a title contender in the West.
“As an example of how Boston could optimize Tatum going forward, the first West scout pointed to the transformation that’s been happening to the Los Angeles Lakers offense in recent weeks, as LeBron James has taken on a new role as secondary option behind Luka Doncic,” McMahon wrote.
While Tatum would be the second option behind Brown on offense rather than the third behind anyone else on the Celtics’ roster, it’s an interesting thought.
“To their credit, and to his credit, [LeBron is] playing the right way,” the scout said. “He’s a basketball savant, and he’s figuring out how to fill in the gaps and they are unstoppable right now. You have the growing pains with working Tatum back in, and you just have to give it time.”
Overall, Tatum has been playing well, considering the Achilles injury occurred just over 10 months ago. Still, questions remain about how he’ll fit next to Brown and the rest of the rotation if the Celtics have hopes of advancing multiple rounds in the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum Injury Return Struggles
GettyBOSTON, MA – MARCH 22: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics tries to get untangled from Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at TD Garden on March 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
In McMahon’s article, he also referenced some recent quotes from Tatum about the struggles he’s faced returning from his Achilles injury.
Again, his coming back in the timeline he did is pretty remarkable, but it’s not super surprising that a player of his caliber is coming to grips with the fact that his game and overall production aren’t the same compared to his pre-injury form.
“I ain’t know how this (expletive) was going to be,” Tatum said after Boston’s Sunday loss. “It’s tough. In the moment, you try not to think about it. You just want to be Jayson Tatum and feel like yourself again…I’m not Superman, so it’s obviously going to take some time.”
Tatum’s numbers have been good outside the shooting percentages, but considering he scored at least 26 points per game over the previous five years, it would have been a bold prediction to think he’d immediately get back to that form.
“I’m just taking it day by day,” he added. “I have probably the worst injury you could have. I came back in 10 months. I wanted to be perfect and [return to] first-team All-NBA Jayson like that. I didn’t rush the rehab process, so I can’t rush this.”
The Celtics have gone 6-2 since Tatum’s return from injury. On the season, they are 47-24 and second in the East, but are facing serious competition from the New York Knicks for that spot in the standings as the final stretch of the regular season approaches.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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