Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens continues to sidestep any particulars regarding Jayson Tatum's return date from the Achilles rupture he suffered during the playoffs, but it sounds like superstar has been no stranger to the team's training facility in Boston.
"Jayson is working every single day. He literally has been here every day – except, he took a few days’ break. But even when he takes a few days’ break, [trainer] Nick [Sang] goes with him, so he’s still working every single day," Stevens said Tuesday.
Monday, Indiana Pacers President Nick Pritchard ruled out Tyrese Haliburton for the entirety of next season as he rehabs the Achilles tear he sustained in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. But Stevens has taken a different approach speaking publicly about Tatum.
"We’re not even talking about timeline for return. We’re not even going there," he said.
Stevens noted that Jaylen Brown has also spent a significant time around the Celtics' Auerbach training center in Brighton, even getting shooting practice in Tuesday morning.
"It’s been unique to be here in June and the early part of July, and both Jayson and Jaylen are here. We play late, and this is usually a time when guys get away," he said. "Coming off of each of them having surgery, they’ve both been here."
Brown has been busy off the court locally: he kicked off a summer camp program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through his 7uice Foundation this week.
Fans following Tatum on social media have seen, for themselves, videos of him walking through a recent pool workout.
"Jayson was in, moving pretty fast in that boot, today," Stevens added. "All indications are they're both progressing at incredible rates, which is good. But we're not going to put any pressure on him."