Jayson Tatum’s performance in the G-League has Ron Harper Jr. fired up

Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. said Jayson Tatum looked like himself during a recent G League practice, encouraging optimism about the All-Star forward’s potential return to the lineup.

Speaking Friday on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Harper described Tatum’s involvement with the Maine Celtics as encouraging as the 27-year-old continues to recover from an Achilles tear.

“He looked like Jayson Tatum. I’ll say that much.”

Harper added that the team is eager to reintegrate Tatum into the rotation.

“We’re really excited … we’re really excited about the potential for him to come back. We don’t know for sure if he’s going to come back or not. But we’re really excited to see how he progresses through his rehab.”

Jason Tatum looked like Jason Tatum. Ron Harper Jr explains the excitement in the Celtics locker room after Jayson Tatum’s G-League practice. Can the Boston Celtics win it all with Tatum back in the lineup?

Click the link for NBA All-Star coverage – https://t.co/j3RPgmmeVM pic.twitter.com/rP6ED5DeIK

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 13, 2026

The organization announced on Monday via X that Tatum would be assigned to participate in portions of Maine’s practice at the Auerbach Center before being immediately returned to Boston.

“Jayson Tatum will be scheduled to participate in portions of @MaineCeltics practice at the Auerbach Center this afternoon.”

After this practice, Tatum will be immediately invited to the Boston Celtics, where he will continue the rehabilitation process.

Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, six assists and 1.1 steals per game last season while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.3% from 3-point range in 72 games. He suffered Achilles injury during Boston’s second round playoff loss to the New York Knicks.

Brad Stevens reiterates Celtics confidence amid Jayson Tatum’s return

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said last week that Tatum’s impact remains undeniable.

“Obviously, any team with Jayson Tatum is going to be better,” Stevens said Friday, via ESPN . “If he needs it, I’ll tell him every day. Because any team – all 30 of us – would be so much better with him on the team.”

Stevens emphasized that there is no pressure on Tatum as he works on his recovery timeline.

“Those are just things that go through everybody’s mind. In all our conversations, he’s confident that he can improve the team… He’s crossed a lot of thresholds, he’s doing more and more, and he’s going to continue to do more and more. There’s no pressure from us. But there’s also not going to be any of us just saying, why not?’ Will be: When he’s ready, he’s ready.

Boston enters All-Star weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles at 35-19, holding onto the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Guard Jaylen Brown has anchored the roster in Tatum’s absence with an MVP-caliber campaign, but Harper’s comments underscore the upside the Celtics expect once their franchise cornerstone is fully cleaned up.

For now, Tatum’s G League showing represents another step in a measured rehab process — one that encourages teammates about what lies ahead.