Jayson Tatum Looks Like Himself Again - and the Celtics Are Taking Notice
The Boston Celtics are already one of the East’s top teams, but the buzz around the locker room is growing louder - and it’s all about Jayson Tatum.
After a stint with the Maine Celtics during a recent G League practice, Tatum is starting to look like, well, Jayson Tatum again. That’s according to teammate Ron Harper Jr., who got a firsthand look at the All-Star forward as he continues to work his way back from an Achilles tear.
“He looked like Jayson Tatum. I’ll say that much,” Harper said during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
And if that sounds like a simple statement, it’s anything but. For a player coming off a serious lower-body injury - especially one as explosive and multidimensional as Tatum - looking like yourself again is a major milestone.
Harper echoed the cautious optimism that’s becoming more and more prevalent inside the Celtics’ camp. “We’re real excited… we’re real excited for the potential of him coming back,” he said.
“We don’t know for sure if or not he’s going to come back. But we’re real excited to see him progress during his rehab.”
The Celtics made it official earlier this week, announcing that Tatum would participate in portions of Maine’s practice at the Auerbach Center before being immediately recalled to Boston. It was a controlled environment - a chance to get reps, test the leg, and continue ramping up without rushing the timeline.
And make no mistake, the Celtics are playing the long game here. They know what they’ve got in Tatum, and they’re not about to force the issue. But it’s clear the progress is real, and it’s encouraging.
Tatum was in peak form last season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc. He was the engine of Boston’s offense, the guy who could create his own shot, draw double teams, and make the right read when the defense collapsed. Losing him to an Achilles injury during the second round of the playoffs against the Knicks was a gut punch - not just for the Celtics, but for the league.
Now, several months into rehab, Tatum is checking boxes. He’s doing more.
He’s moving better. And according to team president Brad Stevens, the Celtics aren’t putting any artificial pressure on his return - but they’re also not holding him back if he’s ready.
“Obviously, any team with Jayson Tatum’s going to be better,” Stevens said last week. “If he needs it, I’ll tell him every day. Because every team - all 30 of us - would be way, way better with him on the team.”
That’s not just front-office speak. It’s a reflection of how central Tatum is to everything Boston wants to do - not just this season, but long-term.
Stevens made it clear: when Tatum is ready, he’s back. No rush.
No delay. Just readiness.
Jayson Tatum looked like Jayson Tatum. Ron Harper Jr explains the excitement in the Celtics locker room following Jayson Tatum's G-League practice. Can the Boston Celtics win it all with Tatum back in the lineup?
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 13, 2026
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In the meantime, the Celtics have held their own. Heading into All-Star Weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Boston sits at 35-19, good for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Jaylen Brown has stepped up in a big way, putting together an MVP-level stretch that’s kept the Celtics in the thick of the race. But Harper’s comments - and Tatum’s G League appearance - hint at what’s coming next.
The Celtics aren’t just surviving without Tatum. They’re preparing for a version of themselves that could be even more dangerous once he returns.
And if that practice in Maine was any indication, Jayson Tatum is getting close.