Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles is expected to sideline him through at least the end of 2025, according to a new report.

ESPN’s Marc Spears on Wednesday reported Tatum’s father, Justin, expects the Celtics superstar to miss “eight to nine months.” An eight-month recovery would have him back on the court in mid-January.

Tatum underwent surgery Tuesday in New York City after suffering the injury late in Monday’s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In a statement announcing his diagnosis, the Celtics said the 27-year-old is “expected to make a full recovery” but did not offer a projected timetable for his return.

Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson missed 18 months and 14 months after tearing their Achilles tendons in 2019 and 2020, respectively. DeMarcus Cousins missed just under a year. Kobe Bryant, Tatum’s childhood idol, returned from his Achilles tear in eight months, though he played just six games before suffering another injury.

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Tatum’s surgeon was the same one who repaired Durant’s Achilles, per Spears, who also described an emotional conversation between Tatum and his father Monday night.

“He said that within 10 minutes (of the injury), Jayson’s mom called him, Brady, told him what had happened,” Spears said on ESPN. “He got off the phone, started bawling, he told me. … Jayson ended up giving him a call once he was able to. They cried on the phone together. Jayson was asking him, ‘Why me, Dad? Why me? Why does this have to happen to me?’ And he said, ‘Son, this is God’s will. You’re young. You’re going to get through this.’ And he reminded him that, ‘Isn’t Kobe your idol? Kobe got through this.’ …

“He said that the thing he’s most concerned about is his son mentally. This is the first time he’s ever had an injury like this before. He’s not worried about the physical; his son’s not even 30 yet. But it’s the mental part, and he feels like each day, he’ll get better.”

Tatum has not missed more than 10 games in any of his eight NBA seasons. Since he entered the league in 2017, he leads all players in games and minutes played, including playoffs, and ranks second in total points.