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It’s been 10 months since Jayson Tatum last suited up for the Boston Celtics in an NBA game. That streak ended Friday night, when the star forward made his 2025-26 season debut against the Dallas Mavericks.
Before the game, Tatum acknowledged that he was bracing for an onslaught of emotions as he prepared to return.
“Coming on the court for the first time, I may be excited, but I’ll be excited,” he said. “I’ll be looking forward to it. And I’ll be proud of myself for getting to that point. There have been some long days over the last 42 weeks.”
Tatum recorded a double-double in his quicker-than-expected return from the Achilles injury he suffered during a playoff game against the New York Knicks. He scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 27 minutes as the Celtics beat the Mavericks 120-100 on Friday night.
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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum walks off the court after Game 1 of an NBA Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe)
After the win, Tatum talked about the obstacles he overcame to get back on the court.
“It was surreal. It was an emotional day. It’s been a long journey. God is the greatest, bringing me to this point. Many days I dreamed about this and for it to finally happen and share it with my family, my teammates, the crowd. It was everything I could have dreamed of,” Tatum said.
While he found out he had been discharged in February, Tatum said his mental preparation took longer.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington (25) during the second quarter at TD Garden on March 6, 2026, in Boston. (Winslow Townson/Image Images)
“Physically you are clear, you can do everything,” he said. “But I haven’t competed or played in a game in a long time. That mental hurdle is a real thing.”
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum applauds from the bench in the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on March 4, 2026. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe)
Tatum was visibly emotional in the locker room moments after suffering the injury on May 12.
But he worked through long periods of physical therapy, training and the lingering pain of his injury.
“I’ve worked tirelessly to get back to being myself, to get back to 100%, to go out and compete.”
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