Former Duke superstar Jayson Tatum is turning heads as he recovers from an Achilles tear.
Former Duke Blue Devils superstar Jayson Tatum has been dealing with some adversity in recent months. Last season, in the Boston Celtics' playoff series against the New York Knicks, Tatum went down with a torn Achilles.
While many expected him to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season due to the injury, Tatum has been making a very quick recovery. There seems to be a very real chance that Tatum could make a return to the court this year.
Even though there is hope for a return this season, Tatum still has a lot of work to do to make that happen.
As he continues working his way back towards a return to basketball, Tatum has turned heads with his leadership. He may not be able to play, but that has not stopped the NBA superstar from making an impact.
Jordan Walsh, one of Tatum's teammates on the Celtics, spoke out about the former Duke star.
“He’s a coach/hype man/ leader,” Walsh said. “He’s kind of doing it all. Obviously, everyone respects him and his opinion. Respects what he has to say. So, every time he pulls me aside, I listen, because it could help me for this game, the next game, or for my career.”
Tatum has become one of the top stars in the NBA throughout his professional career. The Achilles injury has slowed him down, but there is zero doubt that he will return to form as soon as possible.
He has played in 585 career games so far, starting in all of them. Tatum holds career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals, while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 37 percent from three-point range.
At 27 years old, Tatum still has a long career ahead of him. It's difficult to return from an Achilles tear, but the speed at which Tatum has been recovering is not seen very often.
Hopefully, the Blue Devils legend can accomplish his goal of playing for Boston this year. Being able to make a comeback during the 2025-26 NBA season would help him both physically and mentally.
Expect to hear more updates about Tatum's recovery status in the near future. All of the news that has come out so far has been positive.