Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum says he's nearing a return to top form after tearing his Achilles in May 2025.
Tatum looked to be at his best in Tuesday's 125-124 win over the Brooklyn Nets, as he buried a buzzer-beating game-winner in overtime to cap a 40-point performance.
"I'm 18 months out (from the torn Achilles). For me, it's about progress and how I'm moving," Tatum said postgame, per CBS Sports' Jack Maloney.
JAYSON TATUM. GAME-WINNING @TISSOT BUZZER-BEATER TO SEAL IT FOR THE CELTICS IN OT 🤯😳 🚨⏰Everyone Gets 24 https://t.co/UwK9VKPJeq
— NBA (@NBA) October 28, 2026
"It was a hell of a feeling, just kind of getting back to doing things that I used to do before I was injured and sharing that moment with my teammates on the court," Tatum said of the game-winning bucket.
He joined Larry Bird as the only players in Celtics history to score at least 40 points and sink a buzzer-beater in the same game.
Last season, the 28-year-old appeared in 16 regular-season contests and six postseason games before being shut down for Game 7 of Boston's first-round series versus the New York Knicks due to knee tightness.
Tatum also recorded eight assists and five rebounds in the win over Brooklyn. The six-time All-Star is averaging 28 points, 6.3 boards, and eight assists on 43% shooting through four games. That includes a subpar 6-of-23 shooting performance in the Celtics' season-opening defeat to the Detroit Pistons.
Tatum still needs to work out some kinks; his 24.1% shooting from deep on 7.3 attempts per game is chief among them. Regardless, the 2024 NBA champion is taking pleasure in his return to form.
"It's little moments throughout the game where I do something - and it's not always with the ball - where I'm like, 'Ooh, it's coming back to me and I'm really starting to feel like my old self.' I feel really good about that," Tatum said.
