Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered a season ending Achilles harm. What does this imply for the Celtics’ playoff hopes?
As soon as the unsung heroes of Boston, the Celtics now discover themselves on the point of elimination. With Jayson Tatum sidelined, the way forward for the franchise is up within the air. Is it the tip of an period in Boston?
Down 2-1 within the Japanese Convention Semifinals, the Celtics held a safe 69-58 lead in opposition to the Knicks on Monday. Up by 11, Jayson Tatum knocked down a 26-foot 3-pointer to increase the lead.
As for a lot of the sequence, the Celtics have been infamous via the sequence for squandering a number of double-digit leads. This was no totally different in Recreation 4 after the Knicks exploded for a 37 third quarter domination. Within the matchup, Brunson and Tatum continued to go toe-to-toe on the Backyard.
That is Tatum’s First Main Damage in Eight Seasons
The comeback will likely be larger than the setback 💚 pic.twitter.com/r7r92lBb93
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) Might 14, 2025
Heading into the fourth quarter, Tatum was having some of the full video games of his profession. All till Celtics and basketball followers witnessed a travesty. Down 113-104 with 2:58 remaining within the fourth quarter, Tatum suffered a non-contact harm whereas combating for a free ball in opposition to OG Anunoby. Grimacing in ache, Tatum was helped off the courtroom.
On social media, Celtics President of Operations and Normal Supervisor Brad Stevens was seen helping Tatum into the gamers tunnel. The act exhibits how invested the franchise is in it is gamers.
The following day, the group introduced Jayson Tatum underwent speedy surgical procedure to restore a ruptured proper Achilles tendon. Per the Celtics, Tatum is predicted to make a full restoration. Whereas the surgical procedure information got here forward of the harm analysis, group reported there ‘is not any timetable’ out there for his return.
Here is a video of Celtics GM Brad Stevens serving to Jayson Tatum final evening (from u/JeezusChristIII on Celtics subreddit): pic.twitter.com/kayjEw8ypb
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) Might 13, 2025
Tatum is the newest NBA participant to go down with an Achilles harm. He joins Damian Lillard, Dejounte Murray, Dru Smith, James Wiseman, and Isaiah Jackson—who’ve all handled the identical harm this season
On Wednesday, Tatum broke his silence relating to the harm on social media.
“Grateful for all of the love and help,”wrote Tatum on his private Instagram.
Though the Celtics conceded to the Knicks, Tatum was having a kind of most full video games of his profession. Via 40 minutes, No. 0 erupted for 42 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and two blocks. Within the sequence, Tatum averaged 25 factors, 11.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, one block, and a couple of.8 steals.
Tatum’s Sturdiness Units Him Aside
JAYSON TATUM 🔥
51 Factors (31 1st Half)18/28 Shooting9 Threes (Profession-Excessive)10 Rebounds7 Assists1 TurnoverIn simply 33 Minutes
pic.twitter.com/oD9yhNkIi9
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 23, 2022
Tatum is thought to be some of the sturdy gamers within the NBA. Vocal about not lacking video games, even on the street—Tatum has solely missed 51 out of 585 common season video games with the Celtics. Drafted No.3. general within the 2017 NBA Draft by Boston, Tatum’s reliability and iron-willed willpower has made him a fan favourite among the many league. We’re speaking a couple of participant who missed his first profession playoff matchup within the final spherical vs Orlando.
In line with Shams Charania, Tatum has performed probably the most mixed common season and playoff video games (706) of any participant within the NBA since he was drafted in 2017. In his eight years with the Celtics, the previous Duke star is an NBA Champion, and led Boston to 2 finals look. Because the franchise star of the Celtics, he’s led them to the playoffs yearly since he was drafted.
Higher but, nobody has spent extra time than Tatum on the hardwood since he entered the NBA.
With Father Time catching as much as LeBron James, the face of the NBA has grow to be a broadly mentioned subject. Jayson Tatum, together with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, has been widely known as a possible future face of the league.
What Tatum’s Damage Means for the Celtics’ Future
An harm like this exhibits simply how rapidly the course can change for groups in sports activities. After ending second within the Japanese Convention with a 61-21 file, the Celtics had been optimistic about repeating as champions.
Even earlier than the harm, it was clear the Celtics would want to make main strikes to enhance their monetary construction within the offseason. Working beneath the second apron, this seemingly signifies that Kristaps Porzingis, Sam Hauser, or Jrue Vacation have performed their closing video games in inexperienced and white.
In line with Spotrac, the Celtics are over $58,000,000 in cap area and it is unclear if the Celtics will qualify or apply for the Disabled Participant Exception. With a brand new proprietor set to happen, the Celtics beginning 5 could be headed in the direction of a mixed $200 million payroll subsequent season. In line with Charania, the Celtics payroll is ‘approaching’ $500 million.
There was a lot anticipation this group may run it again once more, even favored by sportsbooks to win all of it via the tip of the season. With the information comes numerous questions. The Celtics acknowledged there is not a timeline, nevertheless, we have seen athletes get better from an Achilles anyplace from 8-12 months prior to now.
Celtics’ Monetary Limitations Loom Over Boston’s Offseason Plans
Down 1-3 in opposition to the Knicks, the Celtics’ playoff hopes are more than likely over. Tonight, they get an opportunity to clap again at residence—however even then, can Boston pull this off with out Tatum? Most certainly not. If that is the case, the championship window has seemingly closed for this group. That’s to not say the Boston Celtics are nonetheless the 2024 NBA Champions.
Theres’ one factor to know—Jayson Tatum stays the star of this franchise, and Brad Stevens is a mastermind with regards to drafting and crafting a group. Nonetheless, with a devastating harm to Tatum and new possession, “totally different right here” may have a complete new which means. The monetary facet of issues have loomed over the franchise for fairly a while.
With that comes the million-dollar query: Will the Celtics break up the Jays? Jaylen Brown, drafted No. 3 by the Celtics in 2016, has remained a part of the core alongside Jayson Tatum. Set to make over $57 million subsequent season, Brown simply completed the second yr of the five-year, $304 million extension he signed in 2023. Tatum lately signed a 5-year $313 million contract final summer season.
Whether or not the Celtics determine to blow it up or preserve core gamers round, their hand will likely be pressured financially. With 11 straight playoff appearances, the Celtics have been some of the deadly forces within the NBA as of late. Beneath Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have completed within the high 2 of the Japanese Convention yearly.
Is It the Finish of an Period for the Boston Celtics?
At simply 27 years previous, Tatum hasn’t totally hit the prime of his profession but. In years previous, the basketball world witnessed Warriors star Kevin Durant rupture his Achilles throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Finals. Though struggling the harm after the age of 30, Durant returned to the hardwood at a excessive degree.
With youth on his facet, Tatum will more than likely miss a bit of subsequent season, if not all of it. Which means the Celtics should discover all choices outdoors of Tatum. Having retained a 2025 first spherical choose, the Celtics could also be pressured to rebuild via the draft. Except for the No. 28 general choose, Boston owns the No. 32 choose (second spherical) within the upcoming draft.
With Al Horford and Luke Kornet set to grow to be a free agent in 2025, Kristaps Porzingis is about to grow to be a free agent in 2026. If you analyze it this manner, the Celtics frontcourt may appear vastly totally different within the close to future. This implies the Celtics could rely extra on guys corresponding to Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman.
Tatum’s harm provides to a protracted record of Celtics accidents over time. Although the franchise is understood for successful—its historical past additionally contains a number of devastating illnesses. Celtics followers have witnessed ugly accidents to Gordon Hayward (leg), Larry Chicken (again), and Kevin McHale (foot), simply to call a couple of.
Although the skies stay ominous in Beantown, we’re wishing Jayson Tatum a full and speedy restoration. Thought-about some of the gifted scorers in basketball, Tatum has achieved a lot success and private accolades at such a younger age.
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Author, Journalist, Content material Creator, Managing Editor, and Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a give attention to the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides within the Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
