Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Celtics Announce Jayson Tatum News Before Mavericks Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zahid Rashid | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 2:29 PM ET

Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum has remained sidelined since tearing his Achilles in last year’s playoffs, with many writing him off entirely for the 2025–26 season. However, he now appears to be on the brink of returning to the court.

Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across 72 games last season and earned his sixth All-Star selection. But after helping the Celtics reach the second round of the playoffs, he suffered a season-ending injury in Game 4 against the New York Knicks, with Boston eventually losing the series 4–2.

While the Celtics were expected to take a step back in Tatum's absence this season, they have remained competitive and are currently second in the Eastern Conference despite having traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to clear cap space and gain flexibility heading into the 2026–27 season. And now, they are getting Tatum back as well.

Jayson Tatum talks with reporters during media day at the Auerbach Center. David Butler II-Imagn Images

The Celtics initially listed Tatum as questionable for Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks but later updated his status to available, confirming reports that the 28-year-old could make his season debut tonight.

Injury Report Update:

Jayson Tatum - AVAILABLE https://t.co/IdTCh94zVN
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 6, 2026

Tatum will likely be on a minutes restriction for some time as he gets back up to speed, but his return will certainly make the Celtics a legitimate title contender, which is impressive for a team that was expected to have a gap year this season.

In Tatum’s absence, Jaylen Brown has taken charge of the team, leading from the front with 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 48% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range. There are concerns about whether Tatum’s return could disrupt a rotation that has worked well in his absence, but former Celtics forward Grant Williams believes it is just media noise.

“It’s the same dumb s–t they’ve been talking about since I was here,” Williams told Jay King of The Athletic. “So I think neither one of (Tatum or Brown) should pay any attention to it because they’re both phenomenal human beings, but also phenomenal players. And no matter what the media says, they’ve shown that they can play with one another and they add to one another’s games. And no matter who gets the attention, no matter who gets the praise, the ultimate goal is winning."

Tatum and Brown know how to work together, having led the Celtics to an NBA championship in 2024. And if Tatum regains his health and form, Boston will be a serious threat to reclaim the crown from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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