Bill Simmons said on his podcast that Jayson Tatum’s return to the Celtics lineup appears targeted for Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. “Tatum, it feels like it’s gonna be Friday vs Dallas,” Simmons said. Tatum has been out since tearing his Achilles during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on May 12, 2025, and underwent surgery the following day.
Tatum has been participating in full-speed five-on-five sessions for over a week after advancing to five-on-five workouts in February. No official return date has been announced by the Celtics, but Simmons’ timeline aligns with the progression of Tatum’s rehabilitation over the past several weeks. The Celtics are 40-20 and hold a strong position in the Eastern Conference, with Jaylen Brown carrying the offensive load throughout Tatum’s absence.
Tatum has been going full speed in five-on-five for over a week after 10-month Achilles recovery
The recovery has taken nearly 10 months from the date of the injury. Tatum spoke about the emotional difficulty of the process on his YouTube channel, saying he questioned whether he would play again in the immediate aftermath of the tear. The progression from surgery in May to five-on-five contact work by February and full-speed sessions in recent weeks follows a standard Achilles rehabilitation timeline, but the final step — clearance for game action — has not yet been officially granted.
The Friday target against Dallas would carry added significance beyond the return itself. The Mavericks represent a high-profile opponent, and the game would serve as a test of where Tatum stands physically against NBA-level competition after the longest absence of his career.
How the Celtics manage his minutes and role in the initial games back will determine how quickly he can integrate into a team that has built its identity around Brown’s production during the 10-month absence.
Celtics are 40-20 with Brown playing at MVP level and would add Tatum to an already competitive roster
Boston’s 40-20 record without Tatum reflects how effectively the roster has performed around Brown, who has played at an MVP-caliber level throughout the season. The Celtics recently scored 148 points against the Nets with the second-highest offensive rating in a single game in NBA history, demonstrating that the offense has not lacked for production in Tatum’s absence.
Adding Tatum back changes the calculus for the postseason. A healthy Tatum alongside Brown gives Boston a two-star wing combination that few teams in the East can match, and his shot creation and defensive versatility would address areas where the Celtics have had to rely on depth rather than top-end talent.
The question is not whether Tatum improves the roster — it is how quickly he can return to the level that made him one of the best players in the league before the Achilles tear, and whether the remaining regular-season games provide enough runway to find that rhythm before the playoffs begin.