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BOSTON (AP)— Jayson Tatum, the standout player for the Boston Celtics, underwent surgery on Tuesday to address a ruptured right Achilles tendon, which the team confirmed will keep him out for the remainder of the playoffs.
The procedure to repair Tatum’s Achilles was successful, but no estimated timeline for his return has been provided. However, officials are optimistic about his recovery. Updates will be shared in due course. pic.twitter.com/TTXziFtMQB
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 13, 2025
The team revealed the seriousness of Tatum’s injury and the subsequent surgery one day after he was injured during the Celtics’ 121-113 Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks, casting uncertainty on both the chances of the defending champions repeating and Tatum’s availability for the upcoming season.
While a specific return date has not been announced, the expectation of a full recovery has been communicated.
Historically, a major injury like this can have a long-lasting impact, as seen when Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, resulting in him missing the entire following season.
At 27 years old, Tatum has been a standout performer for the Celtics, averaging 28.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game for the second consecutive playoffs.
Currently, the Knicks lead the Celtics 3-1 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, with Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday night in Boston (7 ET, TNT).
Tatum was taken off the court with 2:58 left in Monday’s matchup after he attempted to recover a loose ball. His leg buckled without contact, causing him to fall in pain and cover his face with a towel while clutching his injured ankle.
Before the injury, he had delivered an impressive performance, scoring 42 points — marking his best playoff scoring outing and one of the most memorable games of his career.
This injury marks the second time Tatum has been sidelined this postseason, having previously missed Game 2 of Boston’s first-round series victory over Orlando due to a bone bruise in his right wrist, which was his first playoff absence ever.
Now, Tatum’s teammates face the difficult challenge of overcoming a 3-1 deficit to avoid extending an NBA record six-year streak without a repeat champion.
Historically, teams with a 3-1 lead in the NBA playoffs have won 95.6% of the time, with only 13 out of 293 teams managing to come back from that disadvantage to win the series.
“We all understand what this situation could lead to. This part of the sport is tough,” said Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis on Monday. “We need to keep pushing forward. Tatum wouldn’t want us to be downcast; we need to put forth our best effort.”
To achieve the rare feat of turning around a 3-1 series, the Celtics will require outstanding contributions from a roster that has seen several players deal with injuries this postseason.
All-Star Jaylen Brown has been playing through a right knee issue that has occasionally hindered him, while Porzingis has also been affected by the lingering impact of a viral illness that limited his play in the latter part of the regular season.
Brown expressed confidence after the game on Monday, stating, “We need to prepare for the next challenge. We have to show up on our home court and execute what we need to do. That remains our goal. We have what it takes in this locker room. I trust my teammates.”
Regardless of how the series and playoffs unfold for Boston, Tatum’s injury is likely to influence the franchise’s strategy this coming offseason.
With this season included, the Celtics will exceed the salary cap, marking their third consecutive year as a luxury-tax team, which subjects them to the “repeater tax” for being over the cap for three years running.
Their projected payroll for next season could reach approximately $225 million, resulting in a tax bill nearing $280 million. The total financial commitment could surpass $500 million, setting a league record.
It remains uncertain if the team’s new ownership, which agreed to a purchase in March for at least $6.1 billion, will be willing to continue absorbing such significant tax burdens to retain the current roster.
Tatum signed a record-breaking five-year, $314 million contract last July that will take effect next season, while Brown is under a five-year, $304 million deal that began this year.
Given Tatum’s potential absence for all of next season, ownership may reconsider player salaries this summer, possibly accelerating plans to restructure the roster with an eye on future growth.
