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Will Tatum miss entire season? Forsberg, Abby react to ‘surprising' report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the past several months, the question hasn’t been if Jayson Tatum will return to the Boston Celtics this season, but when he’ll return.

But a report Wednesday night has shifted that conversation.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Tatum is “re-evaluating his situation and is now considering sitting out the entire 2025-26 season” while recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered last May.

Tatum recently expressed doubt over how he’d reintegrate with the Celtics when he returns to action, telling The Pivot podcast that he’s been thinking “every single day” for the last two weeks about the potential challenges of joining a team that’s playing like a legitimate contender without him (29-18 and third in the Eastern Conference entering Thursday).

Still, the overwhelming expectation was that Tatum would return at some point this season, with a home date in February or March looking like the general timeframe. So, what should we make of this latest plot twist?

NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg and Abby Chin shared their immediate reactions on the Celtics Talk Podcast after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden.

“My immediate reaction is to just dismiss it,” Forsberg said. “I do think Tatum showed a bunch of self-awareness in those comments on The Pivot where he kind of said, ‘Hey, the Celtics have a good thing going. I don’t want to come in and be a disruptor.’ On the other hand, the Celtics still need some pieces to be a true contender, and I ultimately think for them to be in that mix, Jayson Tatum needs to be on the court.

“So, very interesting that this is being thrown out into the universe. I don’t know if this is just it being reaffirmed that he’s having some real heavy thoughts about how he fits and not wanting to disrupt, or if he’s truly pondering if the best path is to just wait.”

“I’m surprised by this,” Chin added. “I feel like this entire season — and everything that we’ve heard coming from Jayson himself — was just how motivated he is to get back this season and to get back as soon as possible.

“And yes, while the Celtics have exceeded expectations, there was always the expectation that Jayson would return this season. And to me, that’s part of the plan and has been part of the plan. So, this is surprising. I’m curious to see where this goes from here.”

To be clear, Tatum hasn’t decided on his future one way or the other. The Celtics star told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Wednesday night that he has yet to make a decision on whether he’ll return this season because he “wants to get it right the first time, so it’s just a lot to think about.”

As Forsberg mentioned, it’s possible that Tatum is just wrestling with some internal doubts. This is the first major injury of his career — prior to his injury, no NBA player had appeared in more games than Tatum since he entered the league in 2017 — and he understandably doesn’t want to risk coming back too soon, especially if the Celtics are playing well.

“I do think we’re seeing a little bit of human nature,” Chin said. “I think this injury forced Jayson to confront his basketball mortality.”

That part is understandable. But if Tatum is truly concerned that he’ll somehow mess with the Celtics’ mojo by coming back, Forsberg has a message for the six-time All-Star.

“The Celtics have been good and they’re playing different, and I think Tatum has every right to think that there will be pain points or bumps in the road trying to re-acclimatize,” Forsberg said.

“I think the bigger thing is, he just needs to get over that, because the best version of the Celtics includes Jayson Tatum.”

Stephen Curry is now 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. With a stepback three against Utah, he passed Paul Pierce, finishing the night at 26,398 career points and still climbing. Another name checked off. Another Hall of Famer in the rearview. On paper, it’s just another milestone in a career already stuffed with them. In practice, this one hits a little different.

Speaking of Pierce, remember NBA Live 2002? There was something about that classic hoops title that hit different for me back when I was a young high schooler. Not the gameplay, but the bios. Those little blocks of text that turned polygons into people. And there it was in Paul Pierce’s profile: born in Oakland, playing for Boston, nicknamed The Truth. Now I know Pierce’s family moved to Los Angeles when he was still in elementary school, but for an East Oakland kid like myself scrolling through rosters, that bit of Town trivia felt like finding a secret passage.

He immediately joined several other Bay Area born players like Gary Payton and Jason Kidd as guys I would root for no matter their jersey. Pierce was never the most athletic wing of his era like Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady. He was something better for a certain kind of fan: relentlessly effective. A killer from deep before that was the default setting. Ice cold when the game slowed down. Crafty in ways that didn’t show up on mixtapes but absolutely showed up on scoreboards. And nobody lived at the line like Pierce. He drew fouls with angles, leverage, timing. Nearly nine free throws a night at his peak. That wasn’t explosion. That was intelligence. Knowing exactly when a defender was cooked and making the whistle unavoidable.

So watching him finally break through in 2008, watching him win Finals MVP, felt personal even in Celtics green. An Oakland-born player who proved you didn’t need freakish tools to dominate. Just toughness, feel, and nerve.

Around that same time, the Warriors drafted a skinny kid from Davidson with fragile ankles and a jumper people thought was cute. His name was Stephen Curry, a baby-faced sidekick to Monta Ellis, a guy who very few could have imagined would bend the sport to his will.

Sixteen years later, Curry passed Paul Pierce on the all-time scoring list and he did it with a stepback three in a fashion that would make the Truth proud. Curry also went to the line ten times against Utah, channeling Pierce’s old blueprint in his own language.

That’s the poetry. Pierce thrived by being smarter than everyone else. Curry does the same thing at 37, except his craft warps the geometry of basketball itself. Pierce pushed the three forward for his era while Curry turned audacity into infrastructure. It makes me smile that Pierce was born in Oakland and decades later Curry became Oakland’s basketball avatar. Different paths, and yet the same principles: outsmart the defense, punish mistakes, and do it in style. For me, watching Curry pass Pierce doesn’t just feel like a stat update, but rather more of a handoff. One era of Bay-born basketball intelligence giving way to the next, louder, stranger, more revolutionary version.

If you loved Pierce for being effective over flashy, for the threes, for the free throws, for the nerve, this moment keeps that spirit alive. Curry didn’t just pass him folks, he did it the Pierce way, then added a chapter only he could write.

That’s full-circle basketball swag. The Truth would respect it.

TORONTO — Karl-Anthony Towns, the subject of persistent trade rumors ahead of next week’s deadline, said he’s unconcerned with the chatter.

“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors a lot for a lot of times, for a year damn near. That don’t matter to me,” said Towns, who was traded from the Timberwolves to the Knicks before last season. “I don’t look at social media or none of that stuff. I focus on the job on hand which is trying to get wins every single night. As long as I do that, I do my job, I go home happy and I feel accomplished. I’m not worried about what anybody got to say or people write or anything like that.”

At least as of earlier this week, the Knicks were not talking to other teams about trading Towns, according to sources. But his struggles have compelled speculation about his availability and that will intensify with recent news that Giannis Antetokounmpo is available.

Towns has a longstanding relationship with Knicks president Leon Rose, who once represented the center as a longtime agent at CAA. Still, Towns said he hasn’t discussed the trade rumors with Rose.

“We only worry about one thing. That’s winning. So I got no reason to go into depth on anything else,” said Towns before the Knicks’ 119-92 blowout win over the Raptors. “It’s just at the end of the day the conversations revolve around one thing and one thing only every single day, 24 hours a day — is winning. How can we win? How can I help this team win? The sacrifices I’ve got to continue to make every single night for us to be the best version of ourselves. I’ve been willing to do that every single night, regardless of what anyone talks about.”

Towns, an All-NBA selection last season, became eligible for a contract extension before the season but there was no traction toward an agreement.

He is shooting career lows this campaign and continued those struggles Wednesday (3 for 11 from beyond the arc), but he also grabbed a season-high 22 boards.

The Knicks had a case of the back-to-back blues.

Two players — Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson — were ruled out of Wednesday’s win for “ankle injury management,” one day after both played in a victory at MSG versus the Kings.

Josh Hart (ankle injury management) and Jalen Brunson (illness) were also questionable Wednesday before playing.

Hart scored 22 points and Brunson had a rare off night offensively, scoring just 13.

With the depth compromised, Tyler Kolek went from consecutive DNPs to 20 minutes on Wednesday, collecting 10 assists.

Happy birthday to Andre Iguodala, the man who helped the Golden State Warriors unlock a dynasty.

On his special day, with the Warriors scrambling to replace Jimmy Butler and contemplating trading Jonathan Kuminga possibly back to Miami for Andrew Wiggins, there’s no better moment to recognize what we lost when Iguodala retired. Because the truth is simple: the Warriors have been searching for another Iguodala since he retired, and they still haven’t found him.

Let’s remember what made him irreplaceable.

In July 2013, Andre Iguodala turned down more money from Denver to join the Warriors on a four-year, $48 million deal. That single decision separated the Warriors from “cute story” to “championship contender.” His pedigree legitimized everything Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were building. When an All-Star caliber player chooses your young, unproven team over a bigger payday, people pay attention.

Then he backed it up by winning Finals MVP in 2015, holding LeBron James to 38.1% shooting when guarding him compared to 44% against other defenders. That wasn’t just about defense. That was about identity. The role player who sacrificed his ego won the biggest individual award of the championship run. That was the Warriors Way crystallized. Here’s what made Iguodala special: he came off the bench for Harrison Barnes without destroying the locker room. An All-Star, a franchise centerpiece in Philadelphia, willingly accepted a reduced role because Coach Steve Kerr believed it gave the team the best chance to win.

Most players would have demanded a trade. Iguodala absorbed the tough situation privately, then went out and delivered when the Warriors needed him most. When Golden State fell behind 2-1 to Cleveland in the 2015 Finals, Kerr inserted him into the starting lineup and Iguodala kept LeBron from averaging 80 points, helping the Warriors win three straight games and capture their first championship.

That’s championship DNA. That’s what separates good players from dynasty builders.

When Kevin Durant arrived, the Warriors added otherworldly talent and complicated emotional dynamics. He was the guy Kerr referred to as the adult in the room, a level headed veteran who could lead with both his play on the court and his spirit behind the scenes.

He was the Swiss Army knife alternating between being a highflyer, clutch shooter, and primary playmaker over eight seasons while guarding the opponent’s best player. But his real value was leadership. He mentored young players like Moses Moody, Kuminga, and Wiggins during his final Warriors stint in 2021-23. When the Warriors won their fourth championship in 2022, Iguodala was taking a backseat yet again to his younger teammates. But his presence, his voice, his example carried through the entire run.

Remember when the Warriors retired his jersey last year, making him only the seventh Warriors player to have the honor? He joined Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Chris Mullin (No. 17), Nate Thurmond (No. 42), Alvin Attles (No. 16), Rick Barry (No. 24) and Tom Meschery (No. 14) up in the rafters. The cosmic poetry of Jimmy Butler making his Warriors debut on the night Iguodala’s jersey was retired felt like a passing of the torch. Butler, who played alongside Iguodala in Miami, embodied similar qualities: the calm in the chaos, the defensive anchor, the unselfish star.

Butler helped the Warriors get a first round playoff series win in a supporting role to Curry, before his ACL exploded this season. And suddenly Golden State is back to an all too familiar space, desperately searching for someone who can fill the Iguodala-shaped hole in their roster.

Pretty good chance they won’t find him. Not because there aren’t great wings in the league, but because Iguodala’s greatness wasn’t just his skill set. It was his spirit, his timing, his willingness to sacrifice, his ability to lead without needing credit. That’s the standard. That’s what every trade, every signing, every draft pick has been chasing. And that’s what makes Iguodala’s legacy etched in stone, even as the Warriors struggle to find the next wing to carry that honor forward.

Happy birthday, Andre. We’re still trying to figure out how to replace you. We probably never will.

CLEVELAND — As LeBron James made the trip to Rocket Arena before the Lakers’ Wednesday night blowout loss to the Cavaliers, he couldn’t help but wonder the same thing everyone else was.

Could that have been James’ last NBA game in Cleveland, and should he soak it in even more than usual?

“That’s every road arena that I’ve been in,” James said. “I think [I’ve] talked about that, that I’m just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted. Because it could be [my last season].” 

James, who’s 41 years old and playing in his league-record 23rd NBA season, reiterated that he doesn’t know what the future will hold for him beyond this season. 

He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. 

“I obviously haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be [my last season]. So, no matter if it’s here or going to Washington and playing the next game, [Madison Square] Garden, Barclays [Center], on this trip. And obviously it means a little bit more here for me personally because I grew up 35 minutes south of here.”

James, and the Lakers, struggled on Wednesday night. 

The four-time league MVP finished with just 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting to go with six turnovers, five assists and three rebounds.

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And the 129-99 final score was the Lakers’ largest margin of defeat in a game this season. They were outscored by the Cavaliers 99-59 in the game’s final 32 minutes, including 72-44 in the second half, after having a 40-30 lead early in the third. 

“We got outplayed, you can say, I got outcoached,” coach JJ Redick said. “We just didn’t look like we had all our juice.”

Despite the lackluster performance that dropped the Lakers to 28-18, there was a bright spot outside of the tribute video the Cavaliers had for James in the first quarter: second-year guard Bronny James scoring eight points — a dunk in transition and a pair of 3-pointers in the game’s final 3 ½ minutes after the Cleveland chanted “We want Bron-ny” multiple times during the fourth quarter. 

Bronny, 21, was born in Akron, Ohio like his father. He spent many years around the Cavaliers during the elder James’ two stints with the organization from 2003-2010 and 2014-18. 

“It was pretty cool just sitting over there and watching him just continue to live out his dream,” LeBron said of Bronny. “Obviously it’s a homecoming for him/ And to see him get that fastbreak dunk, hit a couple shots, get the ovation from the fans – it’s a pretty cool moment for him, for us as a family, for my wife and his siblings. Just super cool.”

LeBron added: “And my mom is here watching her son and her grandson. Like, I don’t even know how to even wrap that all in one in my brain. And yeah, it’s so weird and so cool and so surreal. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time. I actually just started to think about how insane that is. That’s awesome.”

But regardless of Wednesday’s result, James’ future was always going to be the main focus coming out of the game against the Cavaliers. 

James told cleveland.com in May 2017 that he felt he didn’t have anything left to prove. 

But nearly nine years later, he’s still playing. 

“After going to eight straight Finals and with all the energy and all the mental toll and the physical toll that it took on me and obviously my teammates – four in Miami, four [in Cleveland – if you would’ve asked me if I was going to be playing eight years later, I’d have said no,” James said. “It’s just, there’s no way I could have foreseen that. A couple more years? Yeah. I can go out and play at a high level for a couple more years. But eight years? No.”

Most team and league personnel aren’t expecting for James to retire after this season — though it’s uncertain whether he’d continue his career with the Lakers.

But if James does decide to retire, he would’ve done so without a proper farewell tour. 

“I have not even thought to the point of a farewell tour or whatever the case may be,” James said. “Because I haven’t had the conversation with myself and my family on when is it over? So I think that will come after that.”

When James does have his internal dialogues, they come back to why he’s still playing – a question he has a consistent answer for.

“My why has been that I’m still playing this game at a high level and I still love the process,” he said. “The process of putting in the work, inspiring, giving what I got to the game because I’ll have more years in my life without it than with it to be able to inspire. I’m not talking about even me personally. I’ve done well for myself on a personal note.

“Now, obviously, the question gets asked more and the thought creeps in my mind more at 41 years old of when the end is and where’s the finish line for us to hang this thing up. But how much juice can I squeeze out of this orange? I’m in a battle with Father Time and I’m taking it personal, and I’m seeing how many more times I could be victorious over him. I won’t be one of those guys that won’t be able to walk off the court, that’s for sure.”

Memphis Grizzlies (18-27, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (12-37, 15th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Memphis hits the road against New Orleans looking to end its five-game road skid.

The Pelicans are 6-26 against Western Conference opponents. New Orleans is seventh in the Western Conference in rebounding averaging 44.0 rebounds. Derik Queen paces the Pelicans with 7.4 boards.

The Grizzlies are 14-15 in Western Conference play. Memphis ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 34.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Zach Edey averaging 7.2.

The Pelicans average 114.4 points per game, 1.9 fewer points than the 116.3 the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies average 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 fewer made shots on average than the 14.8 per game the Pelicans allow.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Pelicans won 133-127 in the last matchup on Jan. 24.

TOP PERFORMERS: Queen is shooting 48.4% and averaging 12.1 points for the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III is averaging 24.0 points over the last 10 games.

Cam Spencer is scoring 11.7 points per game and averaging 2.7 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 21.0 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 114.3 points, 46.9 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.4 points per game.

Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 110.5 points, 46.4 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Dejounte Murray: out (leg).

Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr.: out (toe), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Santi Aldama: out (knee), Zach Edey: out (ankle), Ty Jerome: out (calf), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Raptors (29-20, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (24-22, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Toronto will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Raptors face Orlando.

The Magic have gone 16-17 against Eastern Conference teams. Orlando ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 44.2 rebounds. Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with 8.8 boards.

The Raptors are 22-13 in Eastern Conference play. Toronto ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 52.3 points per game in the paint led by Scottie Barnes averaging 11.4.

The Magic are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points higher than the 46.2% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors average 113.6 points per game, 2.0 fewer than the 115.6 the Magic give up to opponents.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Raptors won the last matchup 107-106 on Dec. 30, with Jamal Shead scoring 19 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Banchero is shooting 46.2% and averaging 21.9 points for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 18.1 points over the last 10 games.

Barnes is scoring 19.4 points per game and averaging 8.3 rebounds for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 109.5 points, 43.2 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.2 points per game.

Raptors: 6-4, averaging 111.5 points, 43.8 rebounds, 29.6 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.6 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).

Raptors: Jakob Poeltl: out (back).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Charlotte Hornets (20-28, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-28, 11th in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hornets -4.5; over/under is 228.5

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte is looking to keep its four-game win streak intact when the Hornets take on Dallas.

The Mavericks are 14-13 on their home court. Dallas has a 5-5 record in one-possession games.

The Hornets have gone 11-15 away from home. Charlotte scores 116.2 points and has outscored opponents by 1.6 points per game.

The Mavericks are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.4% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 46.2% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: P.J. Washington is shooting 45.3% and averaging 14.3 points for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 20.3 points over the last 10 games.

LaMelo Ball is shooting 40.6% and averaging 19.0 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 117.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points per game.

Hornets: 7-3, averaging 119.2 points, 49.6 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.8 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand), Klay Thompson: out (knee), Cooper Flagg: out (injury management).

Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.