Tatum got off to a slow start in his first game since tearing his Achilles nearly 10 months ago but caught fire to finish with a double-double in Boston's win.

Jayson Tatum had the fans going wild with his one-handed dunk attempt in the Celtics' clash with the Mavericks on Friday night.

Less than 300 days after tearing his right Achilles tendon in last year's playoffs, Jayson Tatum returned to the court for the Boston Celtics on Friday. It went better than anyone could've possibly hoped.

Jayson Tatum had all of that Friday when he finally broke a 2025-26 seasonal sweat, 298 days after grabbing his Achilles last May 12; he wound up in surgery and swimming pools for months.

It took a bit for Celtics star Jayson Tatum to find his shot, but he was doing everything else right in his season debut on Friday night.

Big men and the dunk contest usually don't mix well. Victor Wembanyama could be the exception. Brad Penner / Imagn Images The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.

The Boston Celtics are hopeful that they can challenge for the NBA Finals in 2026, and their expectations have increased after the franchise received a huge Jayson Tatum update on Friday. Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks come to