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11 hours ago
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Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum has been out with Achilles rehab for the entire 2025-26 NBA season so far, and it looks like he could return at some point next year. Now, he has other NBA players who’ve experienced the same injury commenting on his fast recovery.
One of those players is Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant, who suffered an Achilles tear in 2019 in the NBA Finals. In a postgame presser after beating the Celtics yesterday, Durant had nothing but positive comments for Tatum's quick recovery.
“At 5-6 months, I wouldn’t say I felt that confident to dunk the ball… Jayson looks like he’s killing the rehab. He looks great. I don’t see a limp. For someone to just have an Achilles surgery in the playoffs, he looks amazing,” Durant said (via Celtics on CLNS).
Before his Achilles tear, Durant had career averages of 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block per game. Then, he had to sit out the 2019-20 season for rehab, and only played 35 games his next season. However, even after his tear, Durant has career averages of 28 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one block per game.
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This gives a lot of hope for Tatum to return to the star he was before, and may even still become even better. And, with him already being able to dunk, he won’t lose his vertical game like Durant did after the injury.
Hopefully, Tatum continues to have a speedy recovery. And, if the Celtics manage to put themselves in a playoff position, he can return and lead the team to banner No. 19.
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