Jayson Tatum Makes Honest Admission After Celtics’ Playoff Exit

During the Celtics’ end-of-the-season press conference on Sunday, CLNS Media’s Noa Dalzell asked Tatum directly whether he still felt certain he had made the right decision to return this season, considering how the season ended.

“100%. I’m very happy that I came back to be a part of this team, got back to doing what I love, to help give us a chance to compete for a championship,” Tatum said.

He also acknowledged that he never wants anyone to go through what he experienced, but expressed a desire to serve as a source of hope for those who do. 

“In the unfortunate event that it does happen, that I can be sort of inspirational.” 

Tatum also pushed back against the long-held belief that tearing an Achilles is effectively a career-altering event. “It’s not like a career-ending injury,” Tatum said. “You can come back, you can be yourself, you can be better — it won’t take 18 months. You can come back whenever is right for you.”

After tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks last season, Tatum spent the better part of the year working his way back from an injury that has historically derailed careers.

He later made his season debut on March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks, nearly 10 months after surgery. In the playoffs, he averaged 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field.

While the season did not end the way Boston wanted, the good news for the Celtics heading into the offseason is that Tatum should be fully healthy and ready to go when training camp opens for the 2026-27 season, barring any unforeseen setback.