The Boston Celtics finished the 2025-26 season at 56-26 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Even though the Celtics suffered a disappointing first round playoff loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, it was still a great season for Boston, especially considering they played most of it without superstar Jayson Tatum.

Tatum, who is a six-time All-Star in nine seasons, played just 16 regular season games because of a torn Achilles suffered in the 2025 playoffs. He looked healthy and solid upon his return, averaging 21.8 ppg and 10 rebounds. He shot 41.1 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from 3-point range, both under his career averages, but it was still a generally solid showing.

However, even though Tatum looked confident back on the floor, he revealed on Thursday's edition of the 'Dan Patrick Show,' that that wasn't always the case.

He told Patrick that his first game back in March was nervewracking, and he described himself as anxious. Speaking vulnerably, he said that he was nervous every game he played last season, but he was happy to have been out there and proved to himself that he could play.

He also stated he was always confident that with a full offseason under his belt he'd return to his normal self, but again, there was doubt in those games last year because he didn't have a full offseason. Tatum also added that he knows how good medical people are; there wasn't a doubt that he'd end up physically able to play, but the mental doubt is where the worry was.

In addition to speaking about his Achilles and his return, Tatum spoke about his reverence for Jaylen Brown, who was traded to the 76ers this offseason. He said that he loved Brown and the stories of both of them can't be told without the other.

And he's right.

Now that he reportedly feels confident in his Achilles, Tatum has a lot of work to do this season for the Celtics, who project to be worse in the Eastern Conference without Brown. In addition to that, the Eastern Conference as a whole looks much better, especially with Brown and LeBron James in Philadelphia. 

We recently discussed the pressure on Tatum moving forward.

The Celtics will begin training camp on Sept. 29 and the preseason opener is set for Oct. 8. The regular season begins on Oct. 20 when the Celtics travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons, who finished as the No. 1 seed in the East last season.