Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Hasn’t Ruled Out Playing In 2025-26

The Celtics traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks this offseason after losing to the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in six games. Tatum, 27, tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.

One of the best players in the NBA, Tatum appeared in 72 games for Boston last season. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.3% from beyond the arc and 81.4% from the free-throw line.

The Celtics won the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks in five games. They have the most titles (18) in NBA history.

Tatum was the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke. He’s made six All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams with the Celtics. The talented swingman has career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks.

NBA writer Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report thinks the Celtics are done being a championship contender unless “Tatum is either gone or reduced to second-option status.”

“Jayson Tatum should return next year but will likely be less than his best self until at least 2027-28,” Hughes wrote. “At that point, Jaylen Brown will be 31 and earning $61 million. Derrick White will collect $32 million in his age-33 campaign. Throw Tatum’s salary in there, and Boston will have $157 million committed to three players.

“That’s no way forward, which is why the Celtics will probably look to move Brown and/or White at some point in the next couple of offseasons. Tatum feels like a mainstay because of his stature in Boston and because of the contract that’ll keep him maxed out through 2030, but everything else is going to change for the worse by default. Boston had loads of deep playoff runs with Tatum at the forefront, and it won a title in 2024. Another one won’t arrive until long after Tatum is either gone or reduced to second-option status.”