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Jayson Tatum says he still doesn’t have a return date after participating in a 5-on-5 scrimmage at Celtics practice
Tatum practiced with the Maine Celtics earlier in February.
The Celtics added some fuel to the speculation that Jayson Tatum’s return from his Achilles tear is imminent on Saturday. However, the Celtics’ star is continuing to insist that he isn’t sure when he’ll make his return.
In a post made to the Celtics’ Instagram account, the team shared a photo scroll of 10 pictures of Tatum recently getting a workout in with the team. While the majority of the images were solo shots of Tatum, one of the pictures showed the Celtics’ star getting defended by big man Luka Garza.
That image was the first indication that Tatum is at least practicing with his Celtics teammates again, and would seemingly signal that his return could be imminent. But when Tatum spoke with reporters on Saturday, though, he downplayed that idea.
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“I do not have a date,” Tatum said of his return. “I just take it one day at a time. I feel better than I did yesterday, and that’s the most important thing.”
While the Celtics posted the photoscroll on Saturday, the images of Tatum appeared to have come from their workout on Wednesday. The team worked out at the University of San Francisco’s basketball facilities on Wednesday prior to facing the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.
“There was a little five-on-five,” Tatum told reporters of the workout on Saturday. “It’s tough to go into detail of every single thing I do every day. But I will say getting acclimated more and doing limited things with some of the guys out there. It’s all a part of the rehab.”
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Tatum was present at Celtics practice on Saturday, which took place in Santa Monica as they prepared for their matchup with the Lakers on Sunday. But Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t comment on whether Tatum participated in Saturday’s practice.
“It just kind of depends on how he continues to hit those checkmarks, whatever they may be,” Mazzulla told reporters. “At the end of the day, we have to make sure the main goal has always been get to 100 percent, get to as healthy as you possibly can and go from there. He’s done a great job working. My hope is that he gets as healthy as he can.”
Tatum had begun taking part in five-on-five scrimmages with coaches earlier in February. He also practiced with the Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, on Feb. 10.
Tatum told reporters that his practice with the Maine Celtics shouldn’t be taken as a sign of whether he’s returning this season or not, adding that “it was the next step.” He told ESPN during All-Star Weekend that he’s in a “good spot” with his rehab, though.
“It’s been tough. It’s been a roller coaster,” Tatum added in his comments to ESPN. “There’s been different phases of doubt, sadness, times where I didn’t think I was going to come back and play. I can honestly say right now that I’m proud of myself that I’ve made it this far, that I’ve stuck with it every single day.”
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There have been other developments that have led to increased speculation that Tatum might return in the next couple of weeks, too. Tatum and NBC released a teaser trailer for an upcoming documentary series that will detail his road to returning to the court. The NBA and NBC also recently decided to flex the Celtics’ home matchup against the 76ers on March 1 onto “Sunday Night Basketball,” with some wondering if that will be Tatum’s return game.
Prior to the season, Tatum had said that he would like to make his return in front of a home crowd. When the Celtics’ current West Coast trip comes to an end on Wednesday, they’ll play four of their next five games at home. Ten of their 15 games from Feb. 27 through March 27 will also take place at TD Garden.
Still, the Celtics haven’t announced if Tatum will return this season. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has said on multiple occasions that Tatum won’t return until he’s 110 percent ready. The team also never gave a formal timetable for Tatum’s potential return.
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