Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum is widely considered one of the best players in the NBA today. As an NBA champion and a six-time All-Star, Tatum has already carved out a solid legacy for himself as a professional basketball player. However, there is more to his life beyond the game.
While Jayson Tatum is primarily known for his exploits on the court, the Celtics’ superstar is also recognized as the father of one of the Celtics’ unofficial mascots, Deuce Tatum.
Having welcomed his son, Deuce, while he was still a rookie, Tatum experienced fatherhood very early in his life. While speaking about his experiences on an episode of “Glass Half Full,” the Celtics’ superstar discussed how being a father impacted his life and his career.
“I have two boys,” Tatum began. “I have an eight-year-old son, Deuce, and my youngest son, Dylan, who turns 2 [soon]. I was 19 when Deuce was born. That was the best thing that could have ever happened to me… It wasn’t planned. It was tough because I was afraid. I was just leaving Duke. I was entering my new career. I was moving to Boston. New profession; I was starting my new life, and now, I’m about to be a father.”
Tatum revealed that Deuce, who was born in December 2017, arrived just 12 games into his NBA career. As a teenager, the forward had every reason to feel afraid rather than excited at the time. Still, he continued:
“The moment it changed was when he was born, and the doctor handed him to me… For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than being a dad. The bond that we have, the memories that we create, the responsibility that it gave me at 19 years old.”
“Because it’s tough, right? You’re 19. You walk into newfound fame and wealth. There can’t be many bad decisions, and rightfully so. When you’re that young, nobody can prepare you for that. [So] for me, being a father gave me a sense of responsibility… That really made me grow up a lot faster than I expected, and it was perfect timing.”
At 19, when many players are still figuring out where they stand in the NBA hierarchy or are being groomed to carry the weight of a franchise’s expectations, Jayson Tatum was also shouldering the responsibility of fatherhood. While daunting, it can be argued that he did a phenomenal job of staying involved on and off the court.
The early days of Deuce’s life are well-documented as videos of him at games, press conferences, and other public events went viral on multiple occasions. Needless to say, seeing Tatum show up for his son on different occasions was a truly heartwarming sight.
Fatherhood significantly impacted Tatum’s career, too. In the first 12 games of his rookie season, Tatum averaged 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. In the 16 games that followed, Tatum didn’t record a single game below double-digit scoring, as he posted 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game on 51.9% shooting from the field.
With each passing season, Jayson Tatum’s development was tangible, and with his son growing beside him, fans also became even more involved.
Although Deuce isn’t seen as often anymore, he remains an integral part of the Celtics. Given how important Jayson Tatum is to the team’s makeup, especially now in light of Jaylen Brown’s departure, Boston will hope to see Tatum bounce back stronger next season.
