MIAMI — Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum admits he’s uncertain when he’ll return to peak performance following his Achilles injury recovery.
That admission might send chills down opponents’ spines.
Playing in just his 12th contest since returning from an Achilles tear suffered during last year’s playoffs, Tatum accomplished something unprecedented in his career and extremely rare in Celtics history — something no Boston player had achieved since 2010.
Wednesday evening’s performance versus Miami showcased remarkable numbers: 25 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists. This impressive triple-double came while Tatum continues working toward full recovery after sitting out nearly an entire year.
“I wish I had a definitive answer,” Tatum said when asked after the game how much longer he’ll need to feel like he’s back to where he was before tearing the Achilles. “It sounds cliche. I feel a little bit better every game. I don’t know how long it’s going to take to be back to who I was, or hopefully better. But the goal is just to continue to stack days.”
Rajon Rondo previously recorded a triple-double with similar point, rebound, and assist totals during Boston’s 2010 playoff run. Hall of Famer Larry Bird accomplished the feat twice during regular season action — once in 1982 and again in 1990. Prior to Wednesday night, those represented the only three instances in franchise history.
“I can tell he’s still out of shape,” Miami star Bam Adebayo said, smiling, when asked about his U.S. Olympic teammate. “But when you consider somebody like that your brother — we’ve known each other since we were like 12 — and you see what he’s gone through, obviously checking up on him through the rehab phase and the down days that he’s had, you’re proud of him for pushing through it and putting himself out there this season.”
“He’s still trying to find his way, still trying to impact winning. You tip your hat off to somebody who’s been through that and still trying to play.”
Tatum’s shooting accuracy remains a work in progress, currently sitting at 40% from the floor during his return. However, he’s posting averages of 21.3 points and 9.8 rebounds across his initial dozen games back, statistics indicating he’s approaching the elite, All-NBA caliber he’s maintained in recent seasons.
“To me, since he’s been back, he hasn’t missed a beat,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Boston has six remaining regular season contests before likely beginning the Eastern Conference playoffs as the second seed. They trail first-place Detroit by four games while holding a 2.5-game advantage over third-place New York, making the No. 2 position their probable playoff positioning.
Questions surrounded Tatum’s availability when the season began, and even after his return, uncertainty lingered regarding his potential impact level.
Those doubts have been put to rest. Forty-six weeks have passed since his surgical procedure — a milestone he mentally tracks each Tuesday. While he may not feel completely restored to his former self, his statistical output suggests he’s either reached that level or stands on the verge of doing so.
“Definitely the hardest thing I ever went through,” Tatum said. “I mean, I never took that much time off from basketball. The challenges that you have to face mentally and the long, dark moments and dark days … I mean, it is tough. It is. But I’m proud of the fact that I’ve made it this far.”
