Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is making strides few expected this early.
Just five months after undergoing Achilles surgery, the 27-year-old is already back on the court, and back above the rim.
Tatum shared a short clip on X showing himself dunking during a workout session, a major milestone in his recovery from the torn Achilles tendon that ended his season last May. His caption? Simple and self-deprecating, with all credit to the shoes.
Must be the shoes 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/SQsxrWDAkX
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) October 9, 2025
“It wasn’t the most mind-blowing dunk fans have seen from Tatum,” Yahoo Sports noted, “but it was impressive nonetheless.”
Considering the timeline, that might be an understatement. Achilles injuries are among the most serious in sports, with typical recovery times stretching nine to 12 months.
Tatum suffered the tear in the closing moments of Boston’s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Without him, the Celtics lost the series in six games.
Despite the setback, Tatum has remained optimistic about his path back. In September, he emphasized that rushing was not an option.
“The most important thing is a full recovery,” he said. “And I’m not rushing it … at all.”
Before the injury, Tatum was one of the NBA’s elite. Over the last five seasons, he’s averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, earning six All-Star selections and five All-NBA nods.
With the Celtics expected to hover around the middle of the Eastern Conference while Tatum recovers, there’s no pressure for him to return prematurely. But if Boston somehow finds itself in contention late in the year, fans might just see their franchise player make an early comeback for another playoff push.
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