No one knows what to expect with the long awaited return of Jayson Tatum to the 2025-26 Celtics, as he's reportedly been cleared to play less than 10 months since sustaining a torn Achilles tendon.
The Celtics have listed their All-Star forward as questionable for the first time all season, ahead of Friday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, and while Tatum's teammates have been holding down the fort in his absence -- there's definitely some sort of jitters in the anticipation of Tatum's return happing sooner rather than later.
"I have no idea what it's gonna look like," Derrick White told reporters Thursday afternoon at a Sun Life "Fit to Win" nutrition event. "He hasn't played in a really long time, and we all hope it's the best thing in the world -- but there's gonna be ups, and there's gonna be downs."
What was unknown at the start of the season was how much Tatum would be around the team while rehabbing his surgically repaired Achilles. But they quickly realized he'd never not be around, especially after the Celtics first road trip of the preseason -- five months post-surgery and Tatum has been present at every practice, game home or away ever since.
"When he was on all the road trips, and not just the good cities, you kind of realized he was going to be around," White said. "And I think that was big for a lot of people, just having him around, and someone they can lean on in games, on the plane, or whatever it might be."
White, who is the reigning Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month, also gives credit to Tatum as a major piece to the Celtics success this season even by not playing but simply being present and his impact on winning behind-the-scenes can't go overlooked.
"His presence has definitely helped us win some games," White said. "And like Joe [Mazzulla] always talks about, everybody kind of leads their own different way. And I think him being around has definitely helped us a lot this year."
Hugo Gonzalez echoed what White said and though the rookie has yet to play with Tatum, who he sits next to on the team plane, he explained how big Tatum's role has been despite not being talked about.
"He's been really present, really a vocal leader with his presence," Gonzalez said Thursday. "He has been with us on a lot of trips and a lot of meetings, and he's been right there."
The Celtics rook also made it a point to say that there is a difference between a mid-season acquisition and that of Tatum's potential return, which are not one in the same.
"It's not like we're having a new teammate," Gonzalez explained. "It's just a teammate that has been injured for a period of time."
Of course, with the Celtics being 41-21 (second-best record in the East), along with having the NBA's second-best net rating and the second-best offensive rating, there are concerns from a media and fan's perspective to how does Tatum exactly fit into the equation -- to which Gonzalez dismissed.
"He's Jayson Tatum," said the 20-year-old forward. "He's going to be positive for us in any way. He's one of the best players in the world, and anything that he is doing for us is going to be positive."
Still, with 20 games remaining in the regular season, even White -- who has played with Tatum and won with him plenty -- knows there will be an adjustment period if he does in fact make his return Friday, before any potential playoff run.
"We're all willing to just work through that," White said. "And like I said, the main thing is just to win games, and just do what it takes to win. And, JT is a guy that can do a lot of things on the court."
While not many had the Celtics be competitive this season without Tatum in the lineup, never mind championship contenders, White said the goal since Day 1 was to compete for another banner no matter what. White knows adding Tatum back to this roster that has far exceeded any expectations makes that goal just that more obtainable.
"That was our goal to begin the year anyway, and so obviously adding a guy like JT definitely helps us a lot," White said. "And it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be a challenge, but we play for the Boston Celtics, so that's always the goal and always the standard."
The Celtics could be a full strength for the first time Friday night when the Celtics host the Mavericks at TD Garden. ESPN has the tip-off at 7:00 pm ET.
Joel Pavón
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