Jayson Tatum faces an extended recovery period after tearing his Achilles tendon during the Boston Celtics’ second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. The All-NBA forward is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season, and his road back to peak performance may take between six to twelve additional months, casting doubt on the Celtics’ championship prospects in the near future.
Dominique Wilkins Assesses Tatum’s Recovery Outlook
Former NBA All-Star Dominique Wilkins shared insights about Tatum’s recovery in an interview with Kyle Odegard of Esports Insider, drawing from his own experience overcoming an Achilles injury. Wilkins emphasized that the Celtics have access to advanced medical technology and training resources to aid Tatum’s rehabilitation.
They have everything at their disposal. As far as workout facilities and new-age medicine, workout equipment to get themselves back quicker,
Wilkins said.
But you still need to do the work. Tatum is a guy who loves the game, so there is no doubt in my mind he will put in the work he needs to put in to get back. But it’s going to take him at least a year (to feel 100%). That’s a fact.
—Dominique Wilkins, Former NBA All-Star
Wilkins himself returned from an Achilles injury to finish fifth in MVP voting during the 1992-93 season, illustrating that a successful comeback is possible but often demands patience and relentless effort.
Dwyane Wade Offers Support to Tatum Amid Recovery
On his podcast Time Out with Dwyane Wade, former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade sent encouragement to Tatum, recognizing the challenges faced when a star player suffers a serious injury.
Jayson Tatum went down. You don’t want to see anyone go down,
Wade expressed.
You definitely don’t want to see the stars of our league go down… Sending obviously love to Jayson Tatum as he’s getting on his pace to get back to recovery. His story is not over, it’s continuing to be written and this is a part of it, unfortunately.
—Dwyane Wade, Former NBA Player
Tatum, aged 27, commands respect throughout the NBA as a tough but fair competitor. His absence puts pressure on the Celtics’ competitiveness next season, especially while head coach Brad Stevens must manage the constraints of the second apron luxury tax.
Potential Roster Changes Due to Celtics’ Salary Cap Constraints
With Tatum sidelined, the Celtics’ championship window may shrink, prompting Stevens and management to consider salary adjustments. Jrue Holiday, a two-time NBA champion, could be among those affected in efforts to balance the team’s payroll.
According to analyst Jake Fischer, however, any trade involving Holiday will likely require the Celtics to include additional incentives to offset the large remaining contract on his $104 million deal.
Multiple rival executives have passed along that, for all of Holiday’s unquestioned championship know-how after contributing to title teams in Milwaukee and Boston, some form of incentive (such as draft compensation) might have to be attached to Holiday’s contract by the Celtics to convince someone to absorb the $104 million remaining on the 34-year-old’s deal over the next three seasons,
Fischer wrote.
The uncertainty surrounding Tatum’s injury forces Boston to reassess their strategy. Despite the challenges, he retains the potential to return to elite status in the league, making upcoming decisions pivotal for the Celtics’ future direction.