It’s hard not to notice when Jayson Tatum enters a room.
Just ask Jordan Walsh, who’s seen plenty of his Boston Celtics teammate this summer — even as Tatum recovers from a ruptured Achilles he suffered during the second round of the playoffs back in May.
“The energy in the gym changes when he walks through,” Walsh told Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg on the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast. “He’s not the most vocal guy, but he’s more of a silent leader.
“Him and JB (Jaylen Brown) are more silent leaders. So, when they step in the gym, you can feel the energy shift. You can feel the attention going to them.”
🔊 Celtics Talk Podcast: Jordan Walsh on ‘dog fight’ Celtics workouts & how the energy changes when Tatum is in the gym | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
According to Walsh, Tatum has been shifting that energy on a regular basis, routinely showing up at the team’s practice facility throughout the summer to grind through rehab workouts. The third-year forward has noticed a significant improvement in Tatum’s mobility as a result of those workouts.
“We’ve seen him so often,” Walsh said. “I’ve seen him from when he messed up his Achilles to now, and it’s a big difference. He’s moving around way better. So, he’s progressing well. I’m definitely happy to see him getting back healthy.”
From having surgery mere hours after his injury to doing pool workouts in early July to ditching his walking boot in August, Tatum seems determined to accelerate the timeline of his recovery. His fellow Celtics have noticed, with Walsh noting that Tatum’s mere presence at the facility has motivated players like himself to work harder.
“To see him in the gym definitely sets a precedent for everybody else,” Walsh added. “If a guy is hurt and trying to get back, then you can do the same thing. Like, you’re perfectly healthy, you should be doing the same thing.”
Tatum’s progress is undoubtedly encouraging. But even if he’s ready to play by late February or early March (about nine to 10 months after his surgery), it’s still possible the Celtics keep him out or slow-play his return to ensure he’s 100 percent healthy for the 2026-27 campaign, instead of rushing him back amid a season with lower expectations.
Either way, younger players like Walsh, second-year wing Baylor Scheierman and rookie Hugo Gonzalez will have opportunity for larger roles while Tatum is sidelined. And it sounds like there’s already a fierce competition playing out for those minutes on the Celtics’ practice courts.
“The energy is already different. You can feel it,” Walsh said. “It’s kind of like, everybody’s trying to find their footing. Everybody’s trying to make their way, because it’s a bunch of young guys who are not necessarily proven. It’s a lot of potential and unproven talent that’s on the team.
“You can feel it in every workout where everybody is going at each other’s necks. Everybody’s trying to earn that spot, earn that playing time, earn that position. So, it’s like a dog fight right now.”
Check out Walsh’s full interview with Forsberg on the latest Celtics Talk Podcast:
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