Bam Adebayo Praises Tatum's Comeback, But Admits He's Not Yet at Full Strength

The Heat star acknowledges his longtime friend is still working his way back from a torn Achilles injury.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:52am

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Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo praised the impressive performance of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in their recent matchup, but admitted that Tatum is still not quite back to his best form after returning from a torn Achilles tendon less than a year ago. Adebayo, who has known Tatum since they were 12 years old, said he can tell Tatum is 'still out of shape' despite Tatum's 25-point, 18-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in the game.

Why it matters

Tatum's return from a serious Achilles injury has been closely watched, as the multi-time All-Star is a key piece for the Celtics' playoff hopes. Adebayo's honest assessment provides insight into Tatum's recovery process and suggests the star forward still has work to do to regain peak physical condition.

The details

In the Celtics' win over the Heat, Tatum put up an impressive stat line of 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists. As one of Tatum's closest friends, Adebayo was pleased to see his longtime peer back on the court and performing well. However, Adebayo acknowledged that Tatum is 'still out of shape' as he continues to work his way back from the Achilles injury that sidelined him for a significant stretch.

  • Tatum returned from his Achilles injury less than a year ago.

The players

Bam Adebayo

The starting center for the Miami Heat and a close friend of Jayson Tatum since they were 12 years old.

Jayson Tatum

The star forward for the Boston Celtics who is making his return this season after suffering a torn Achilles injury.

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What they’re saying

“I can tell he's still out of shape, but when you consider somebody like that your brother. We've known each other since we were like 12. You see what he's gone through. You're proud of him for pushing through it... You tip your hat off to somebody who's been through that and still try to play.”

— Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat Center

What’s next

The Celtics will continue to monitor Tatum's recovery and work to get him back to full strength ahead of the playoffs, while the Heat will look to secure a spot in the Play-In Tournament despite their recent struggles.

The takeaway

Tatum's impressive performance against the Heat shows he is making progress in his recovery, but Adebayo's honest assessment indicates the star forward still has work to do to regain peak physical condition after the serious Achilles injury. The Celtics will need Tatum at his best if they hope to make a deep playoff run.