“No NBA player since Jose Juan Barea in 2019 has returned sooner than 10½ months after an Achilles rupture, suggesting the Celtics should plan on Tatum missing the entire 2025-26 regular season,” Pelton wrote. “A postseason return is more realistic, but there's basically no precedent for that.”

Tatum suffered an apparent leg injury late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, and he is set for further evaluation Tuesday with Boston one loss from elimination.