"That appetizer was damn good" - Kendrick Perkins crowns the Celtics East favorites after Tatum’s return
Everyone, from fans and analysts, thought the Boston Celtics would take a gap year this season following Jayson Tatum's torn Achilles suffered during last season's playoffs, but now, with the Celtics currently in second place in the East and their superstar just recently returned, they look scarier than ever.
The Celtics spent much of the season proving they are far deeper than many expected. Without Tatum, Boston continued to pile up wins and contend for the top spot in the conference standings.
Led by Jaylen Brown , the Celtics never allowed Tatum's absence to derail their ambitions. Instead, they held the line until he came back. So when Tatum finally stepped back onto the floor against the Dallas Mavericks , it did not take long for the same fans and analysts who didn't think too much of their chances this season to be in awe .
One of these analysts is Kendrick Perkins , who spoke on the Roadtrippin' podcast to explain why Boston has once again become the team to beat in the East after Tatum's return.
Tatum's return changed everything
Perk made it clear what he believed after seeing Tatum's season debut against Dallas and their subsequent game against fellow East contenders the Cleveland Cavaliers .
"They're my new favorites to win the East. That was all I needed to see was an appetizer of Jayson Tatum, that appetizer was damn good," said Perk. "This little sample size we done seen out of him, like it's only going to continue to get better."
"He's going to continue to get his rhythm, his legs up underneath him. Like the biggest thing is how is his body is going to continue to respond. And Jayson Tatum is one of those dudes that we know he's going to punch in the clock," he added,
Against the Mavericks, Tatum finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists before delivering again in their next game against the fourth-place Cavaliers, recording 20 points on 6 for 16 shooting, including a dagger 3-pointer. If that wasn't enough, JT then added more to his scoring tally after finishing 24 points against the San Antonio Spurs in their last game.
While he did look rusty in some parts, that was to be expected from a player who has not played since May of last year. Still, he has proven the doubters, who thought he was rushing his return, wrong.
The doubt still lingers, however, as an Achilles tendon tear is one of the most challenging injuries in sports to return from. But Perkins believes the Celtics star has the mindset necessary to handle the quick turnaround of 298 days, given how much he idolized the legendary Kobe Bryant , who returned from an Achilles tear after only 240 days.
"We know he's following that Mamba Mentality," Perkins stated. "Kobe was his mentor, Kobe was the guy that he looked up to. Kobe came back in record time for his Achilles tear."
"So when you think about what the Celtics have, they already have the most championship experience out of anybody in the Eastern Conference, led by a guy who thrives off adversity," he continued.
The East is wide open
Not only does Tatum's return ignite an already hot Celtics team, but it also comes at a perfect time, as the conference-leading Detroit Pistons are struggling. Detroit has lost four of its last five games and has allowed the Celtics to catch up for the coveted No. 1 seed.
Looking ahead, with the Pistons' inexperience in the playoffs and the other East powerhouses still finding their momentum, it's hard to argue that the Celtics are the best team in the East today. Not to mention that they know what it takes to win the championship in this modern era.
"Those guys are dangerous, and when you look at the Knicks right now, they're still having that struggle of trying to find their identity defensively, especially on the wings. And then you look at the Pistons, they somewhat hit a rocky road. You wanna be peaking at this point," said Perkins
"Again, when you looking at rest of the teams in the Eastern Conference, like the Cavs, there's so many unknowns and uncertainties," he added. "But I'm ready to jump off the porch already and say that Boston is my favorite because they have a duo that is proven."
With Tatum back and Brown playing the best he's ever played in his career, the Celtics now look like a fully operational contender just in time for the postseason. Only time will tell what happened, but one thing is for sure: the 2023 champions are back and scarier than ever.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
