Sources – Celtics’ Jayson Tatum expected to make season debut

boston celtics supper star jayson tatum Expected to debut in the 2025–26 NBA season against dallas mavericks Friday night at TD Garden, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Thursday.

Tatum, who returned less than 10 months after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals new York Knicksis reported to be ready to go, sources told ESPN, and he is expected to inform the Celtics of his final decision before Friday’s action.

He has been working diligently to try to play this season after suffering a serious injury against the Knicks. He underwent surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery by Dr. Martin O’Malley less than 24 hours after his injury.

Tatum, who turns 28 on Tuesday, is a six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection — including four consecutive first teams from 2022-25 — and two-time Olympic gold medalist. The possibility of his comeback has been an ongoing story throughout the season – one that has been heightened by Boston’s success this season.

The Celtics, led by longtime co-star jaylen brownThe MVP frontrunner is in second place in the Eastern Conference standings entering Friday’s action and is on pace for another 50-win season. They have received strong contributions from fellow 2024 title veterans derrick white And Peyton Pritchard And impressive growth from young players like center neemias quetta and wings jordan walsh, baylor sheyerman and newbie hugo gonzalez.

All of this validates coach Joe Mazzulla’s view since the preseason, when he dismissed any notion of it being a “gap year” for the Celtics due to Tatum being injured and several veterans leaving the franchise last summer – kristaps porzingis And junior holiday through trade, and al horford And luke cornet Through free agency.

“I may have to coach in a completely different way than last year,” Mazzulla told ESPN in October. “In previous years, you had an older, more experienced roster, had four or five All-Stars on the team together. So your process is different.”

Now, the process for Boston will focus on getting Tatum back into the mix and up to speed after nearly a year away from the court. It’s safe to assume he’ll start at some minutes limit as he works back, but Boston plays its next 12 games on the docket without a back-to-back — the next one is March 29 and 30. This should give him a chance to get some consistent reps on the court and slowly prepare himself ahead of a playoff push that will see the Celtics once again seen as the favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference.