Bill Simmons Just Predicted Friday Return For Celtics' Jayson Tatum

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The Ringer's Bill Simmons just made a huge Jayson Tatum prediction. During a Sunday night episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons said that he thinks the Boston Celtics superstar will make his season debut this Friday at home against the Dallas Mavericks.

"It feels like it's gonna be Friday (against) Dallas," Simmons said. "All signs are pointing to Friday Dallas."

The Celtics have four games in total this week, including a road contest in Milwaukee on Monday night, which represents the second leg of a back-to-back after Boston's win at home over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Boston will return home to host the Charlotte Hornets, followed by hosting the Mavericks on Friday. The Celtics will end the week for traveling to Cleveland for a game against the Cavaliers on Sunday.

Tatum still hasn't announced a date for his return, nor has he officially announced that he's indeed coming back at all.

Tatum suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on May 12, 2025. He underwent surgery just a day later, beginning a challenging recovery journey that has sidelined him for all of the 2025-26 NBA season thus far.

Rehab progress accelerated in early 2026. In February, he advanced to five-on-five workouts with coaches, marking a key milestone nine months post-surgery. On February 9, Tatum practiced with the Celtics' G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, before being recalled, noting he felt good but remained non-committal on a return timeline. By late February, he was fully participating in scrimmages, focusing on calf strength and mental confidence.

Recent reports indicate Tatum has been going full speed in five-on-five sessions for over a week, with speculation building around a potential March return, though no date is set. A documentary series, "The Quiet Work," offers glimpses into his emotional process, including post-surgery reflections and steady gains.

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