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Reading: Jayson Tatum On His Father Constantly Pushing Him When He Was Young: “I Felt He Didn’t Even Like Me As A Kid Because He Was So Mean To Me”
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Jayson Tatum On His Father Constantly Pushing Him When He Was Young: “I Felt He Didn’t Even Like Me As A Kid Because He Was So Mean To Me”

Jayson Tatum On His Father Constantly Pushing Him When He Was Young: “I Felt He Didn’t Even Like Me As A Kid Because He Was So Mean To Me”

Jayson Tatum's father pushed him incredibly hard to see him become the NBA superstar that he is now.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Oct 19, 2023
5 Min Read
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Credit: Fadeaway World

Jayson Tatum has a complicated relationship with his father, the man who coached him into becoming the player he is today. However, his father took an aggressive approach, often berating and humiliating Tatum to toughen him up for a life in the NBA. The treatment was so rough that Tatum used to wonder if his father even liked him as a child.

(Starts at 1:28)

“I missed out on a father-son relationship. My dad only went to games, practice, and haircuts. We didn’t go to amusement parks, picnics, fishing, or have father-son talks because it was all basketball. He was extremely tough on me. Cuss me out in front of everybody, embarrass me, humiliate me, throw the ball at me in front of everybody. In his eyes, he wanted me to be the toughest and the best… I felt like he didn’t like me as a kid because he was so mean to me. Of course, he did, but as a kid, I couldn’t separate coach from dad. He would always tell me I was soft or that I wouldn’t make it. He would take to the extremes… I didn’t have a real father-son relationship. Would I change it? No. But there are things I missed out on as a kid.”

Tatum is an incredibly loving father to his son Deuce and it’s clear he’s trying to be an affectionate and involved father in his son’s life. When Deuce is old enough to start training regularly, maybe he sees a different side of his father. 

But it’s likely that Jayson mixes his father’s stone-cold approach with a more tender touch to try and maximize the results his father’s system brings while maintaining a positive relationship with his son. 

Jayson has made it clear that he has no ill will with his father, understanding why that treatment has helped him become the player he is today. He has accrued generational wealth for the Tatum family and it wouldn’t have been possible without his father’s methods, even if they might have been cruel.


Tatum On When His Father Called Him A ‘B*tch’ And Held Him Up Against A Wall

Graham Bensinger asked Tatum to discuss a story of his father picking him up and holding him up against a wall just to call him a b*tch and hurl abuses at him. Tatum confirmed the story and tried to rationalize why his father did that. 

“I was scared of him. He would grab me by my shirt, pin me up against the wall, and cuss me out in front of everybody. I’d be bawling. He called me out by name. But then I’d come out at half time and I’d outscore the rest of the team and win. In his mind, he had to push my buttons to get to a certain point.”

Given the stories Jamal Murray has about his father making him pick leaves in the snow or balance boiling hot tea cups on his hands to harden his palms, it’s clear that some sort of excessive discipline could lead children into paths like this. However, success stories like Tatum and Murray are few. In reality, many parents try to train their children in sports with this mentality but end up alienating them if their chosen career doesn’t work out.

Tatum and Murray can look back at their childhoods with gratitude, even if they miss the love a father should’ve given them as kids. But when it leads to making more money than imaginable, family reunions are more amenable than bitter. 

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TAGGED:Boston Celtics ArchiveJayson Tatum
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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