NBA Schedule Change Sparks Wild Rumor for Duke Legend Jayson Tatum

Duke Blue Devils legend Jayson Tatum has not played at all during the 2025-26 NBA campaign, as he is recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered during the Boston Celtics' playoff run last May.

Initially, most felt that Tatum would be out for the entire season, as an Achilles tear typically results in a year-long recovery period.

But is it possible that the former Duke star could be returning to the floor soon?

Ever since late summer, there has been speculation that Tatum was aiming for a midseason return, although no timetable was ever established for the six-time All-Star.

Now, however, speculation is ramping up that Tatum could be on the verge of a return.

In fact, the Celtics' first home game after the All-Star break — against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1 — has been moved from 6 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET and will now be televised by NBC, via Steve Bulpett of Heavy Sports.

This has many wondering if the NBA knows something we don't about Tatum and if he could be making his season debut that night.

Of course, the NBA may have also just rescheduled the game because both Boston and Philadelphia are better than expected this year, and with it being a rivalry matchup late in the season, the stakes are a bit higher.

It does not necessarily mean that Tatum's return is inevitable.

That being said, many are operating under the assumption that the 27-year-old will be coming back, especially after the Celtics acquired Nikola Vucevic at the NBA trade deadline. Vucevic is on an expiring contract, so it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for Boston to land him if it didn't anticipate a playoff run.

That could indicate the C's know that Tatum will be getting back on the hardwood before the end of the regular season and are trying to best position themselves for a shot at a championship push.

All of that being said, even if Tatum does return, he will not be close to 100 percent. A torn Achilles may very well be the most severe injury for a professional athlete, and a full recovery takes significant time.

Tatum spent one year with the Blue Devils in 2016-17 and was then selected by the Celtics with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.

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