A recently surfaced video of Jayson Tatum throwing down dunks has reignited conversations about the Boston Celtics star’s potential return to the court following his Achilles surgery earlier this year.
The footage, which shows the 2024 NBA Champion moving with impressive fluidity and explosiveness, has stunned fans and fellow players alike, none more so than Kevin Durant.
In an interview with CLNS Media, Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, who famously battled back from his own Achilles tear in 2019, shared his admiration for Tatum’s progress.
“At 5-6 months, I wouldn’t say I felt that confident to dunk the ball,” Durant said. “Jayson looks like he’s killing the rehab. He looks great. I don’t see a limp. For someone to just have an Achilles surgery in the playoff, he looks amazing”.
Kevin Durant on Jayson Tatum to @RealBobManning :
“At 5-6 months, I wouldn’t say I felt that confident to dunk the ball… Jayson looks like he’s killing the rehab. He looks great. I don’t see a limp. For someone to just have an achilles surgery in the playoff, he looks amazing.”… pic.twitter.com/k30KAblvFM
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) November 2, 2025
Durant’s comments carry weight, given his firsthand experience with the grueling recovery process. His praise highlights just how advanced Tatum’s rehab appears to be, especially considering the severity of the injury and the short timeline since surgery.
