Jayson Tatum Joins Scrimmage with Maine Celtics as Recovery Progresses: “JT Looked Great”
LOS ANGELES - The Boston Celtics’ franchise cornerstone is taking a big step forward.
Jayson Tatum, recovering from a torn Achilles suffered back in May, quietly returned to the court in a scrimmage last week with the Maine Celtics - Boston’s G League affiliate - at the Auerbach Center. It marked the first time Tatum participated in live action since the injury, a significant checkpoint in what’s been a long, methodical rehab process.
While the Celtics have kept details of Tatum’s return close to the vest, Ron Harper Jr., who took part in the scrimmage, offered a glimpse into the session while speaking at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, where he was participating in both the Rising Stars tournament and the Shooting Stars competition.
“The guys from Maine came down, shoutout to them. They made the trip after a long road trip to Sioux Falls and Iowa,” Harper said from inside the Intuit Dome.
“It just shows the testament of everybody in the Celtics organization. We’re all one team pushing for a common goal.”
That unity was on display during the scrimmage, which included Maine teammates Hugo González and Amari Williams. The G League squad traveled from Portland to Boston specifically to help Tatum get some live reps. And while the run wasn’t open to the public or the media, Harper made it clear - Tatum’s presence was felt.
“We were able to get some stuff in, a lot of good work,” Harper said. “I feel like it was a good day and everybody felt good about it.
He’s a fantastic player, so just him being out there, the presence that he brings to the court is amazing. The way he pushes himself, the way he’s relentless with his work - you can tell he really wants it.”
That hunger hasn’t gone unnoticed. Tatum has spent the entire season on the sidelines, but according to Harper, his drive to return has inspired the locker room.
“He’s been on the sideline the whole year. Just being able to watch that dedication - it’s inspiring for the whole locker room.”
According to reporting last week, Tatum had begun 5-on-5 work with coaches just a day before ramping up to live play with the Maine group. That timing lined up with the All-Star break, a natural checkpoint in the season and a chance for Tatum to test his conditioning in a more game-like setting. While nothing is official yet, the buzz around Tatum’s return is growing.
Kevin Durant, who’s had a front-row seat to his own Achilles recovery, expressed confidence that Tatum will return to form. Damian Lillard, who tore his Achilles about a month before Tatum, noted that the Celtics star is now in the critical phase where the Achilles is placed under maximum stress to test its durability. Lillard, for his part, has opted to sit out the entire 2025-26 season.
Tatum, however, has pushed to return inside of 12 months - a timeline that would’ve seemed nearly impossible a decade ago. But with advancements in surgical procedures and rehab protocols, the door is open. And based on how he looked in the scrimmage, Harper says the signs are promising.
“I tried to guard him. If I’m able to go out there and get half a stop, it’s a success,” Harper joked.
“Just being able to be there, being part of the group that pushes him was great. We’re just pushing the pace, running fast, trying to get up and down as fast as we can.
I feel like we did a good job of that.”
This isn’t the first time the Maine Celtics have played a role in a key rehab. They were also involved in Kristaps Porziņģis’ return from offseason ankle surgery.
He practiced with Maine in Boston on Nov. 18 before suiting up for the big club a week later. It’s a testament to the Celtics’ organizational approach - using their G League squad not just for player development, but as an integrated piece of the bigger puzzle.
Maine has been led this season by head coach Phil Pressey, a former Celtic himself, and features a solid core including Harper, Williams, two-way rookie Max Shulga, and training camp invitees like Jalen Bridges. The team posted a 13-9 record in the first half of the G League season.
Harper, who spent time with Boston around the trade deadline, reconnected with teammates at the scrimmage and shared a post-practice dinner with Tatum and the group. It marked his first time back with the squad in weeks, and he remains a strong candidate to earn a standard NBA contract as the Celtics look to fill at least two roster spots by Thursday.
Harper has been part of the Celtics’ orbit since training camp in 2024 and has made it a point to learn from Tatum throughout the year. That relationship could soon evolve into a full-time NBA pairing.
Over All-Star Weekend, Harper suited up alongside his brother Dylan and father Ron Harper in the Shooting Stars competition. He also played in the Rising Stars game, pulling down seven rebounds for the G League team, though he went 0-for-5 from the field in a 40-34 loss - with Dylan hitting the game-winner over him.
“How many times does a guy get to guard Jayson Tatum?” Harper said, reflecting on the scrimmage.
“The guys in Maine were real excited for the opportunity, and I feel like they took it and ran with it. A couple of those guys went in there and played really well - I feel like they put themselves in a good position for the rest of the season.”
For Harper and others in the Maine system, sharing the court with a player of Tatum’s caliber isn’t just a cool story - it’s a chance to contribute to something bigger.
“Anytime you get the chance to share a court with a guy like Jayson Tatum and be a part of his recovery process, it’s an honor,” Harper said. “Just going out there and doing what I need to do to help get him better, to help get him ready.
JT looked great, and I’m sure he’s gonna keep progressing in his rehab. Whatever that looks like, time will tell - but he’s looking good.”