Sports Illustrated reported that Jayson Tatum returned to action for the Boston Celtics after tearing his Achilles tendon during the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks 298 days ago. Martin O'Malley, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS performed surgery within 24 hours of his injury — something data suggests can lead to better long-term outcomes.

Tatum's determination to make it back in roughly 10 months is impressive, but it also highlights how far sports medicine and rehabilitation have advanced. It's also a promising sign for Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered an Achilles tear during the NBA finals and also underwent surgery by Dr. O’Malley within 24 hours of his injury. If Haliburton were to return for Indiana during the preseason, his recovery timeline would sit at roughly 15 months and two weeks. Seeing multiple other NBA stars successfully return from Achilles injuries within that timeline provides optimism.

Read the full article at si.com.