Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Is NBA schedule change a hint at Jayson Tatum return date?

By Sean Keane | Last updated Feb 15, 2026 2:19 PM ET

The Boston Celtics haven't made any announcements about the possible return of injured superstar Jayson Tatum. But the NBA dropped a hint when they flexed the Celtics' March 1 game to prime time on NBC.

NBC was originally slated to show the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder in that spot, though the matchup has lost some of its luster with rookie sensation Cooper Flagg out with an injury that's left him in a walking boot. The Celtics taking on the Philadelphia 76ers is a more appealing matchup, especially considering Tatum's progress in rehabbing his Achilles injury.

Jayson Tatum is getting close to a return

Tatum tore his Achilles in May, during the Celtics' second-round series against the New York Knicks. The All-Star forward had surgery soon after suffering the tear, while pursuing an aggressive program of rehabilitation that had him practicing with the team's G-League affiliate this week.

The Celtics might have planned to be more cautious with Tatum, but they're in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record and one of the league's best offenses. Tatum hasn't had any setbacks in his recovery, and the Celtics traded for Nikola Vucevic to supplement their frontcourt at the trade deadline.

Tatum would need to come back for some regular-season games if the Celtics want to integrate him back into the team for the playoffs. Why not March 1?

From the league: the Celtics' home game versus Philadelphia on Sunday, March 1st has been moved from 6 pm to 8 and will now be televised by NBC.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) February 13, 2026

March 1 is ideal timing for Jayson Tatum's return

There's a few reasons March 1 would be a good time for Tatum to come back. It's a home game, and the Celtics would almost certainly want Tatum to enjoy an ovation from his home crowd. There's a road game March 2, then the Celtics play at home again March 4 and March 6, which would give Tatum two days rest if he skips the back-to-back, and three straight home games to ease back into NBA basketball.

Their position in the standings is ideal. Boston sits 5.5 games back of the league-leading Detroit Pistons, a tough margin to make up. But they're also 3.5 games ahead of the fifth-place Toronto Raptors, which gives them a cushion for making sure they have home-court advantage in the first round. Essentially, the Celtics can afford it if Tatum is rusty for a while.

Plus, with so many televised matchups this season getting somewhat spoiled due to resting or injured players, it would be nice for the NBA to give their broadcast partner, NBC, a high-quality matchup for its Sunday Night showcase. Tatum coming back in front of a raucous TD Garden crowd, facing Joel Embiid and All-Star Tyrese Maxey would certainly fit the bill.

There's no guarantee Tatum will be back on the court in two weeks. But there's a lot of signs that he will.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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