Jayson Tatum Feeling No Pressure To Return Back Any Sooner Than 100 Percent Healthy

Jayson Tatum said he’s feeling no pressure to return from his right Achilles tendon rupture before he’s fully ready.

“No pressure,” Tatum said Monday at Boston Celtics’ media day. “No pressure to return back any sooner than when I’m 100 percent healthy. No pressure from [Celtics president of basketball operations] Brad [Stevens], [coach] Joe [Mazzulla], the team, the organization. The most important thing is that I’m 100 percent recovered and healthy whenever I do come back.”

Tatum is just 140 days removed from beginning his post surgery rehab.

“Today is cool,” Tatum said. “I think tomorrow will be tough with practice starting out. I won’t be able to be out there.”

Tatum has resumed light basketball workouts as part of his six-day-a-week rehab. 

“I’m in a really good spot. It’ll be five months tomorrow,” Tatum said. “It’s been a long journey. … For me there’s been bright spots. And getting back on the court, being able to participate in a basketball workout was definitely one of the more bright spots of this journey. It just really felt really good to be on the court, dribbling the basketball, going through a workout. You just feel like a basketball player again.”