Marcus Smart declined Jayson Tatum’s reception due to injury recovery

OKLAHOMA CITY — Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart reached for Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum amid his former teammates’ recovery from a ruptured Achilles. Tatum recently posted an update on social mediareminding everyone that he is now six months removed from surgery.

Smart, who played alongside Tatum during the six-time All-Star’s first six seasons with the Celtics, revealed that he spoke with Jason, wishing him well in his recovery.

“I talked to him a little bit,” Smart said. “I’m praying for him. Obviously, I hope he gets the resources he needs. He seems to be doing a good job with his rehab. You never want to see anybody in this league — any of our guys — go down the path that he went down. I want them to be on the field. So we can go out there and perform, and everybody can do what they have to do.”

After helping the Celtics to six Eastern Conference Finals appearances in eight seasons, Marcus Smart made his first and only NBA Finals appearance in 2022. Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023 before being traded to the Washington Wizards in a three-team deal just before last season’s trade deadline.

Smart agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers during free agency after reaching a buyout with the Wizards.

NBA analyst believes Celtics’ Jayson Tatum will return this season

Based on the conversation he had with the six-time NBA All-Star analyst Chris Haynes believes we’ll see Tatum again towards the end of the regular season. Haines expressed his honest opinionfor NBA TV.

“Based on what he sent me, I think we’ll see him at some point during the regular season. He told me he’s been working out three times a week for 45 minutes. He said he has 23 weeks left from his surgery and he’s feeling good,” he explained on NBA television.

“I think we’ll see him at some point during the regular season. 👀.”@ChrisBHaines provides an update on Jayson Tatum’s progress at the Association. pic.twitter.com/nRdk7a86fZ

— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 23, 2025

From footage of Tatum sprinting to completing a two-legged dunk, all signs point to a successful recovery, so far. While we could see a return in the second half of the regular season, Tatum, if available, would most likely return near the end of the 2025-26 campaign.