Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Not Worried About Tearing Surgically Repaired Achilles Again: ‘I Know The Number Is Low’

During an interview with DJ Siddiqi of Poker Strategy, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said he’s not worried about tearing his surgically repaired Achilles again.

Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon on May 12.

“I mean the exact number, I know the number is low,” Jayson Tatum said. “Everybody thinks it’s a time-based recovery. Time is obviously important, but you have to hit certain benchmarks. The most important thing is all these tests of your strength, the strength in your calf, the strength in your leg. Getting into the same strength as your left calf or even stronger.

“For some guys, that takes six, nine, 12 months. Everybody’s just different. But the surgery that I got, the things that we’ve been doing, I feel very, very confident in that surgical site. We won’t have that problem again.”

Tatum hasn’t ruled out playing this season for the Celtics, who won the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks but lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 playoffs.

“I’m there every day I practice,” Tatum said. “I’m not practicing with them, but I’m in all the film sessions. When they’re on the court practicing, I’m rehabbing and doing my stuff. But I’ve been there every day with them. Nobody’s pressuring me. The team, the doctor, the organization, everybody is just like, ‘We want you to be 100% before you come back.'”

One of the top players in the NBA, Tatum appeared in 72 games for the Celtics last season. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks.

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 Boston. The talented small forward has career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks.