Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum once was in tears believing he wouldn't get back on an NBA floor, but now he isn't closing the door on a return this season, just months after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Appearing on ESPN's First Take on Tuesday, the 27-year-old forward said he refuses to assume the 2025–26 campaign is lost. Tatum suffered the devastating injury on May 12 against the New York Knicks and underwent surgery the following day. At the time, he played more games since 2017 than any other player and never missed a postseason until last spring.
"I haven't said I'm not playing this season," Tatum told the First Take crew. "The most important thing is a full recovery, and I'm not rushing it at all. But also, I don't go to rehab six days a week for nothing."
The toll of the injury, however, went far beyond the court. In his first in-depth interview since the incident, Tatum told PEOPLE that the pop in his Achilles "sounded like a gunshot." He recalled breaking down in the locker room afterward, inconsolable as he thought about his future.
"I literally sat there and cried for two hours," he said. "So many things ran through my mind: 'Damn, is my career over? Am I going to get traded? Are all my partners going to drop me?' My basketball career flashed in front of my eyes. At 27, I felt invincible. It all changed in a moment."
Tatum added that those doubts followed him for weeks after surgery, as he adjusted to life without basketball. He leaned on his mother, Brandy Cole, and his son, Deuce, for strength and recalled asking his son if he thought he could ever play at that level again.
Deuce's response helped Tatum regain belief, as the NBA star told PEOPLE, "There have been plenty of moments during this when I doubted myself [...] My son thinks I can do anything. I really needed that."
Celtics president Brad Stevens said in June that Tatum was "progressing great," though he stopped short of setting a timeline. Scouts who have watched Tatum rehab have noted that he looks ahead of schedule, though medical staff has urged patience.