What surgery did Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum have and how long is he out for

The injury looked bad from the start. Jayson Tatum collapsed holding his right leg, and fears quickly grew that it involved his Achilles. Still, confirmation was needed. The Celtics, the defending NBA champions and currently trailing 1–3 in their playoff series against the Knicks face elimination, but Tatum’s teammates put basketball aside and hoped for the best. But the worst has been confirmed: a complete Achilles tendon tear and immediate surgery. The extent of the injury and news of the operation emerged almost simultaneously, just hours after the forward went down during Game 4.

The blow could derail not just Boston’s current title defense but also its plans for next season. Tatum, 27, may miss the entire 2025–26 campaign. In the most optimistic scenario, he could return in time for the playoffs, although that would still require months of rehab and conditioning to regain anything close to his current level. The silver lining, if there is one, is that elite athletes often make full recoveries from Achilles surgery. The operation went well, but no recovery timetable has been set.

Tatum’s injury a huge blow for Boston

Tatum had already racked up 42 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in Game 4 when disaster struck. His right foot appeared to get caught awkwardly while twisting to avoid a steal attempt from Knicks forward OG Anunoby.

The injury brings a brutal end to what had been Tatum’s eighth NBA season. He’s already logged 706 career games—585 in the regular season and 121 in the playoffs—averaging nearly 88 appearances per year and 35 minutes a night, which rises to 39 during the postseason. His durability and workload had been remarkable. But one awkward step in the heat of a playoff battle has now forced an extended pause.

Following emergency surgery, his focus now shifts to recovery—a process that will begin with learning to walk again, then run, and eventually, jump.

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