Jason Tatum wasn’t supposed to be available to the Boston Celtics this season. Ending the Philadelphia 76ers’ season in five games at home Tuesday night would’ve been just what the doctor ordered for the Celtics and their surgically repaired superstar. With the possibility of a grueling series with the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs on the horizon, Boston is now playing with fire.
Jason Tatum isn’t moving up and down the court like a player who ruptured his Achilles tendon last May. He has punished the 76ers over the first five games of their first round series, averaging 24.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. With just 16 regular-season games under his belt, Tatum appears to be in midseason form. When Boston lost its $300 million-plus superstar late last season, the hope was that he would return fully healthy for the 2026-27 season. Tatum’s expedited return to the All-NBA player that he was when he left changes the recovery arc for future Achilles injury in the sport, as well as Boston’s NBA title chances.
It sounds strange to say that a recent NBA Finals MVP needed to raise the level of his game, but that is exactly what was needed from Jalen Brown this season. With Tatum’s injury, this was supposed to be a gap year for the Boston Celtics. In his wingman’s absence, Brown not only held the line in Boston, he led them to the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The holes in Brown’s game vanished this season as he enjoyed career highs in points per game (28.7), assists (5.1), and rebounds (6.9). Brown’s ascent from a secondary option in Boston to an MVP candidate made Tatum’s decision to return on March 6 an easier one. It also gave Tatum the assurance from a fellow superstar that he wouldn’t be asked to carry the full load if he did return.
Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, and Dejounte Murray all suffered Achilles tendon ruptures in 2025. Murray joined Tatum in returning to the court this season, making his season debut for the New Orleans Pelicans nearly 14 months later. Tatum’s return to game action in just under 10 months is uncharted waters. Celtics President Brad Stevens and head coach Joe Mazzulla have been mindful of their 6X time NBA All-Star’s minutes (32.6) during the regular season. Tatum’s minutes have jumped to nearly 38 minutes per game in the playoffs; however, logging over 40 in two of the last three. Pushing his physical limits in a first-round series with Philly was not the game plan.
After a couple of hiccups against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, the Knicks have taken full control of the series with a 3-2 lead. The highly anticipated rematch from a year ago between Boston and New York is looking more and more likely. The Knicks match up well against the Celtics, having won 7 of 10, including a 4-2 series win in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals. Tatum suffered his Achilles injury against the Knicks in Game 4 of that series at Madison Square Garden. Tuesday night’s loss to the 76ers was a missed opportunity for the Celtics to give Tatum the extra rest he needs.
Call me crazy, but I’m just going to say it, the Celtics should rest Jason Tatum in Game 6. Jalen Brown and company posted a 43-23 record with Tatum on the shelf this season. They are more than capable of closing out the series on Thursday night in Philadelphia. If not, they can lean heavily on Tatum for Game 7 in Boston. The New York Knicks would love that scenario.
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