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It’s been 10 months since Jayson Tatum last played for the Boston Celtics in an NBA game. That streak ended Friday night, when the star forward made his 2025-26 debut against the Dallas Mavericks.
Before the game, Tatum admitted he was bracing for a flood of emotions as he prepared to return.
“Going onto the field for the first time, I might be emotional, but I’ll be excited,” he said. “I’ll be anxious. And I’ll just be proud of myself for getting to this point. There have been some long days over the last 42 weeks.”
Tatum had a double-double in his quicker-than-expected return from the Achilles injury he suffered in 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 leaves 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 spoke 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, brought me to this point. Many days I dreamed of this and for it to finally happen and share with my family, my teammates, the crowd. It was everything I could have dreamed of,” Tatum said.
While he learned he was medically cleared in February, Tatum said his mental preparation took longer.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives past Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington (25) during the second quarter at TD Garden on March 6, 2026, in Boston. (Winslow Townson/Imagn Images)
“Physically, you’re clear, you can do anything,” he said. “But it’s been a long time since I competed or played a match. This mental obstacle is real.”
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 being injured on May 12.
But he underwent extensive physiotherapy sessions, training sessions and endured lingering pain from his injury.
“I worked tirelessly to get back to myself, to get back to 100 percent, to get out there and compete.”
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