Looking at how far Jayson Tatum has come in just five years of being drafted into the league, it’s safe to say that the Boston Celtics made the right decision in the 2017 NBA Draft.
From being a 19-year-old full of raw potential to using that talent to finally competing on the biggest stage in the league, Tatum has already achieved a lot. But if he wins the 2022 NBA Finals with the Celtics, he will have a chance at becoming one of the best players of this generation.
However, our focus today is not on what Tatum has achieved on the court. Instead, we will be focusing on how amazing the 24-year-old has been off the court. Particularly in being an amazing father to his son, Deuce.
Deuce was born in the same year when Tatum was drafted and became a father at just the age of 19. Tatum recently opened up about how that journey has been for him and how he has coped with the task of becoming a role model for all the young fathers out there.
(Starts from 5:25):
“I think 2017 when I got drafted, I didn’t have Deuce, but he was born in 2017, so that was a big — that was, like, the biggest year of my life, right? Starting this new chapter in my career, I just had a child. My mindset was not to sacrifice either, that I was going to be the best father as I could as well as the best basketball player. There was no guideline or there was no, you know, exact way to do it. It was all about what was natural.
“I think that’s what it is. I just do what’s natural. I’m around him every day. I think being able to go through this journey together, because I was 19 when I got drafted, it’s kind of like we’re growing up together. As he’s gotten older, I’m going through my career, sharing these moments, experiencing this together as we grow up.”
Tatum continued, “I think it’s the coolest part for me. I don’t know if it’s intentional as much as it’s just natural and what we do. I realize that I do have a platform and things like that. If I am a role model for young fathers around the world, that’s great. I think we need more role models like that. Just to have more male fathers be present and things like that, show that you can do both, regardless of whenever you work, whatever your profession is.”
It was a terrific answer by the Boston Celtics forward. Being a father is arguably one of the best feelings in the world.
But you can just as easily mess that up. Tatum is the perfect example of how to be a good father and we hope people follow in his footsteps and ensure that they raise their kids well.
