Jayson Tatum's 'Unprecedented' Rehab Progress Stuns Celtics Teammates

Jayson Tatum has made 'unprecedented' progress in his recovery from Achilles surgery, returning to basketball workouts less than five months after his rupture. His teammates expressed astonishment at his rapid advancement, with Jaylen Brown joking he'll be ready for opening night due to his 'crazy work ethic and passion.' Xavier Tillman described Tatum's ability to perform box jumps as 'crazy impressive,' while Jordan Walsh called him a 'machine' recovering at a 'crazy rate.' Josh Minott found his progression 'inspiring,' and Derrick White noted it was 'impressive' and a testament to his work ethic. Sam Hauser acknowledged it was 'pretty special' to see him moving so well, crediting his behind-the-scenes work. Payton Pritchard stated he 'already expected this' from Tatum. Coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum's acceptance of his journey, his work ethic, mentality, and leadership as 'second to none.' Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens humorously mentioned being 'a little bit mad' as Tatum's progress led to him being bumped off a treadmill he uses for his own recovery. The Celtics are focusing on playing 'harder and faster' this season, with Payton Pritchard noting a 'war'-like practice. Xavier Tillman, aiming to carve out a role in the frontcourt, has lost 12 pounds this offseason after a knee issue limited him to 231 minutes last season. He is eager to reestablish himself as an experienced, versatile big man.