Jayson Tatum is reportedly getting closer and closer to a return to the Celtics lineup, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The NBA insider says Tatum, who sustained a torn Achilles during the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals in May of 2025, has taken another step in his recovery.
"I can tell you that Jayson Tatum has been a full-go in five-on-five scrimmages with the Celtics," Charania said on ESPN's "NBA Today" Wednesday.
The Celtics have held several practices and scrimmages since before the start of their four-game road trip out west -- to which the team posted several pictures of Tatum participating in workouts, including dunking and driving to the basket over the weekend.
Despite Tatum being only nine months removed from surgery and "ahead of schedule" when it comes to recovering from such an injury, Tatum or the Celtics have not given a timeline or a return date for this season.
"I do not have a date," Tatum told reporters on Saturday. "I just take it one day at a time. I feel better than I did yesterday, and that's the most important thing. … "There was a little five-on-five."It's tough to go into detail of every single thing I do every day. But I will say getting acclimated more and doing limited things with some of the guys out there. It's all a part of the rehab."
On Wednesday, Charania reported that the Celtics will not clear their star forward for a return to the parquet until Tatum himself says that he's absolutely ready to go.
"Right now, it's about him continuing to put in the time, continuing to get his conditioning up and that comes through a number of practices and scrimmages," Charania said. "There are two elements right now at play. One is increasing the strength in both of his calves off of that Achilles tendon injury and the big hurdle of all this is getting 100 percent there on the mental side. Getting the confidence in his leg fully when he's back."The common theme that I've gotten around Jayson Tatum is he will be back on the floor when 'JT feels like JT.' The Celtics have continued to let him lead that process. He's in the driver's seat. They will take Jayson Tatum's lead as far as when he feels like he's ready and cleared."
The Celtics have the second best record in the East at 38-19 and would welcome back Tatum with open arms for the final stretch of the regular season and of course a potential deep playoff run.
Joel Pavón
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