Celts' Tatum not ruling out return for this season

With opening nighttime of the NBA play little than a period away, it would beryllium earthy for immoderate Boston Celtics fans to not beryllium looking up to a play without Jayson Tatum.

It turns out, Tatum appears to beryllium doing everything successful his powerfulness to support that from happening.

Tatum, recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon successful May during the Eastern Conference semifinals, had this to accidental connected ESPN's "First Take" connected Tuesday erstwhile asked what helium thought astir the Celtics' outlook and however his wounded volition springiness Jalen Brown a bigger accidental to lead.

"First thing, I haven't said I'm not playing this season," Tatum said.

Typically, the timeline for returning from a ruptured Achilles would span astir of, if not all, of a afloat season. The Celtics person documented Tatum's recovery, showing him successful societal media videos successful the value room. In August, helium attended New York Patriots signifier without a walking footwear oregon brace of immoderate sort.

"The astir important happening is simply a afloat recovery. And I'm not rushing it ... astatine all," Tatum said connected First Take. "But also, I don't spell to rehab six days a week for nothing."

Tatum said he's been successful changeless interaction with the different NBA athletes who endured an Achilles rupture past season: Damien Lillard, Dejounte Murray and Tyrese Haliburton.

"We've each been successful connection ... Dejounte, Dame, Tyrese... we're each astatine antithetic points successful our recovery. I substance them each the clip to inquire 'what tin you do, and what are you doing successful your workouts.' We're each successful the aforesaid boat, conscionable benignant of checking successful connected each other."

The Celtics unfastened the play against the Philadelphia 76ers connected Oct. 22 successful Boston.