Celtics star Jayson Tatum refuses to skip workout on Christmas Eve

The Boston Celtics received an encouraging sign on Christmas Eve, as Jayson Tatum continued his rehabilitation process without taking the holiday off. With the Celtics firmly positioned in the Eastern Conference race, the moment highlighted both Tatum’s injury recovery progress and the team’s ongoing playoff push to win championship No. 19.

The former Duke standout suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in May during the NBA conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Since then, Tatum’s rehabilitation has followed an accelerated timeline, and his latest post served as visible confirmation that his commitment has not wavered. The Christmas Eve workout message resonated across the league as the season entered a critical stretch.

The post, originally shared to Instagram and later circulated on X (formerly known as Twitter), offered insight into the 27-year-old’s mindset as he continues to ramp up his rehabilitation process.

Even on Christmas Eve, the recovery grind doesn’t stop for Jayson Tatum

(Via @jaytatum0 on IG) pic.twitter.com/T3GF3h4TPv

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) December 24, 2025

The image showed yellow basketball sneakers planted on the parquet floor at the Auerbach Center, reinforcing that the Celtics star is back on the court in a controlled setting. Team president Brad Stevens has previously acknowledged that Tatum’s progress has exceeded standard recovery benchmarks, with reports suggesting that clearance for limited one-on-one drills could be approaching.

Boston has managed to stay competitive without its top scorer. Entering Wednesday, the Celtics sat at 18-11, holding the third seed in the Eastern Conference. That positioning has kept the Celtics playoff push in position, but the margin remains slim as the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons continue to surge.

Tatum’s eventual return remains a central storyline for Boston, as his presence fundamentally alters spacing, scoring balance, and late-game execution. Even without a confirmed return date, the decision to train on Christmas Eve reflects leadership through action and underscores his commitment to rejoining the lineup.

For the Celtics, the path to title contention depends heavily on timing. For Tatum, each on-court session brings him closer to rejoining a roster that has already proven it can win, but knows its ceiling rises dramatically when its franchise cornerstone returns.

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