Bill Simmons seems to have it on strong authority that Jayson Tatum will be back on the floor for the Celtics in the very near future.
The Boston star has yet to play this season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in last year's playoffs. But 10 months later, there are rumblings that the C's All-NBA forward is ready to return for what some believe could be another title run.
The Celtics are currently 40-20 and second in the East with 22 games left to go in the regular season. While five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown continues to put together an MVP-worthy campaign in Tatum's absence.
Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Bill Simmons predicts Jayson Tatum will return this week
On Monday's episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast," the longtime NBA voice and diehard Boston sports fan foreshadowed that March 6's game between the Celtics and Mavericks on ESPN will be the night Tatum makes his long-awaited return.
“Tatum, it feels like it’s gonna be Friday, Dallas. All signs are pointing to Friday, Dallas," Simmons told guest Zach Lowe. "I was wondering if it would be this weekend, but by Friday I think it was not going to be this weekend.”
Stephen A. Smith urges Jayson Tatum not to rush back
Just a few days ago, Stephen A. Smith took to "First Take" to tell Tatum that there's no need to rush back if he's not 100% ready to go. Arguing that the Celtics have "plenty of time" to win again whenever he returns to the parquet court.
"You're 27-years-old, Jaylen Brown is 28, and you've been to five conference finals, he's been to six. You've been to two NBA Finals, he's been to two NBA Finals. You both have won a championship together already, and you've got plenty of time to figure out to figure out how to do it again," Stephen A. argued.
"You've got ample amount of time as a dynamic duo to pull this off. ... You do have a legitimate beef to say 'What's the rush?' They've got plenty of time."
Tatum has slowly been working his way back and recently released the first two episodes of his "The Quiet Work" documentary following his recovery journey.
We're definitely closer to the star forward's return than not. Now it's just a matter of when exactly JT will be back in the Celtics' starting-five.