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Celtics' Jayson Tatum Reveals Frustration Amid Injury Rehab

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 9:29 AM ET

This was a week of frustration for the Celtics faithful. First, Boston had to deal away popular veteran guard Jrue Holiday to Portland as part of the franchise's cost-cutting efforts--necessitated by the NBA's punitive luxury-tax rules--and then, the Celtics doubled down on the giveaway, sending center Kristaps Porzingis to Altanta for journeyman wing Georges Niang.

On top of that, any efforts to get a sense of where star forward is in his rehab as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon injury he suffered in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last month were rendered futile.

Not only did Celtics president Brad Stevens say there is no timeline on Tatum's return, but he said he does not anticipate the Celtics devising one.

“We won’t put a projected timeline on him for a long, long time,” Stevens said of Tatum this week. “As we look at it, there’s no reason to. It’s baby steps right now. He’s actually progressed great, but I don’t know what that means with regard to projected timelines. And that’ll be in consultation with him and (trainers) Nick and Phil Coles and everybody else to make sure he is, when he hits the court, he is fully ready and fully healthy. And that will be the priority.”

Tatum, more than a month removed from surgery, has not said much about his recovery. But he did post a message on social media early Saturday morning that made clear it is a frustrating process.

"Day 45… this is some bull (expletive)," Tatum posted.

It's definitely a change of tone from the last time Tatum posted on his rehab. At that point, he was feeling more positive. "Day 25… days starting to get a little easier," he wrote.

Day 25… days starting to get a little easier
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) June 7, 2025

Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists this season, setting a career-high in assists. He was fourth in the league's MVP voting, and was named first team All-NBA.

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

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