Jayson Tatum practices with Maine Celtics

BOSTON, Mass. - Jayson Tatum reached an important milestone in his recovery Monday by returning to portions of an official practice for the first time since rupturing his right Achilles tendon 39 weeks ago.

The All-NBA wing took part in segments of a Maine Celtics practice assignment, marking the next step in a long and demanding rehab process. One day later, Tatum spoke with the media at the Auerbach Center for the first time since the regular season began, offering an update on where things stand.

While he stressed there remains no set timetable for his return, Tatum made it clear that progress continues.

“I’m feeling good,” Tatum said. “It was good to be a part of practice yesterday with the Maine G League guys. [It’s been] 39 weeks, so it’s been a long journey.”

Tatum said it felt especially meaningful to put a Celtics jersey back on and take the floor alongside the many of organization’s young, developing players. And it felt great to check off one more box in his rehab process.

“It was the next step,” he said. “Doesn’t mean that I’m coming back [this season] or I’m not. It’s just following the plan.”

That plan has required patience – both physically and mentally. Tatum acknowledged the emotional toll of such an extended recovery, noting that the grind has gone far beyond the physical work.

“Mentally it’s been tough,” he said. “It’s been exhausting. I can’t stress it enough – it’s been 39 weeks. There have been a lot of different phases throughout this process. But the organization has been there to support me, friends, family, the whole nine. I’ve had a lot of support throughout this.”

Head coach Joe Mazzulla has seen that work firsthand, sharing each milestone with his star forward along the way.

“I think that’s just what you have to do, is be there for him,” Mazzulla said. “Be there for the milestones, be there for the first time he walked, the first time he ran, the testing you have to go through, and being there yesterday … Yesterday was a good milestone for him mentally, physically, emotionally, but it’s a good milestone to see the work he’s put in to get back to this point.”

Though sidelined, Tatum has remained deeply connected to the team. He’s attended nearly every game – home and away – often sitting alongside the coaching staff and viewing the game through a different perspective.

“I sit next to the coaches during all the games, so I hear their commentary and see it through the lens of a coach,” he said. “I see it from that perspective a lot more than I would have ever seen it before … “I've grown an appreciation for the game and for my teammates and just guys around the league. I’ve just been sitting back and being able to watch guys kind of take that next step. It's been kind of cool to see.”

Staying present has helped him through the recovery, keeping him connected to the group he considers family.

“These are like my brothers,” Tatum said of his teammates. “When you’re injured and not playing, you can feel isolated. Just being around, encouraging them, and staying connected as much as possible, it’s good for me and my spirits.”

He’s also drawn encouragement from watching the Celtics continue to thrive, maintaining a spot near the top of the Eastern Conference standings during his absence.

Looking ahead, Tatum will continue building his conditioning and gradually increasing his on-court workload. As he has throughout the process, he’ll remain focused on steady progress without rushing the timeline.

 “It’s all about being 100 percent healthy,” he said.