Rumor: Celtics’ Jayson Tatum ‘Moving Really Well,’ Could Play Next NBA Season

August 1, 2025

NBA, Celtics, Jayson Tatum — Elsa/Getty Images

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was “moving really well” at Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul‘s basketball camp in Las Vegas, according to NBA reporter Steve Bulpett of Heavy Sports.

Tatum has not been ruled out for next season.

“He was moving really well,” an NBA scout told Bulpett. “There might have been a slight limp or something, but the surprising thing to me is that he didn’t have a boot for any of it. I’m no doctor, but I’ve seen guys coming back from Achilles’ tears, and he looked way ahead. I was kind of shocked to see how well he was moving. I have no idea for what any of this means for when he can come back.

“I’m sure him and the Celtics’ medical people have their program set up, and they’ll make sure that he’s where he needs to be when he does get back. But he looks great right now. Of course, he didn’t do any running or even jogging, but he was in great shape and he had no trouble doing his part at the camp.”

Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon on May 12 in Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The six-time NBA All-Star underwent surgery the next day.

The Celtics haven’t announced that Tatum will miss all of next season. That’s a good sign. The Indiana Pacers already announced that Tyrese Haliburton won’t play next season. Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 22.

Tatum is one of the top players in the NBA. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists last season in 72 games while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.3% from beyond the arc and 81.4% from the free-throw line.

A future Hall of Famer, Tatum has career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He helped the Celtics win the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks in five games.