According to Boston Celtics PR, Jayson Tatum, who has been recovering from a ruptured Achilles, has officially been upgraded to questionable for Friday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
This is the first time all season he has appeared on the injury report as anything other than 'out'.
Shams Charania of ESPN also posted that Tatum will, in fact, return this season. In his initial post, Charania stated that Friday could be his debut, and in a follow-up, he doubled down on that notion.
Tatum has been working tirelessly to get to this point.
"It was pretty constant. He was here like six days a week, getting it in, and always doing something to better his body," former Celtic Xavier Tillman said of Tatum's recovery on Wednesday. "And it's actually pretty impressive to see somebody so dedicated. And when I had those moments during the games to just chop it up with him, he just talks about how much he just misses playing. Misses being able to get a rebound, push it, talk crap to the other team, and just everything that comes with playing. But as far as his rehab goes, I mean, when towards before I got traded, he was looking pretty well for sure."
Now, it seems as though his return is imminent.
"He looks good," Derrick White said on Wednesday night. "Playing, moving. It's been good to see him back and getting up and down. So, you kind of see all the work he's put in to get to this point, and it's been great to see him be able to do what he loves to do."
BSJ Analysis
This is it. Sometimes, the signs are too obvious to ignore.
Over the All-Star break, Tatum began releasing a documentary mini-series titled 'The Quiet Work,' with episodes slated to be released weekly. However, he has since released episodes two, three, and four in the last three days.
Not once this season has Tatum been upgraded to questionable. Not once. They wouldn't do that without a plan.
Barring a late setback, everything is pointing toward Tatum making his season debut on Friday night.
Get ready.