Jayson Tatum

Jayson Christopher Tatum Sr. (/ˈteɪtʌm/; born March 3, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A McDonald's All-American in high school in Missouri, he played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Tatum was selected with the third overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA draft. A four-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Tatum was named the NBA Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player in 2022 and helped the Celtics reach the NBA Finals. He also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo. He holds the record for most points scored in an NBA All-Star game, with 55. Tatum is the son of Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole. Justin Tatum played basketball at Saint Louis University and is a gym teacher and basketball coach at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, from which he graduated in 1997, approximately a year before Jayson's birth; Tatum's father was previously the coach and athletics director at Soldan International Studies High School for six years. Tatum was born when his parents were both 19-year-old undergraduates; his mother Brandy graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and is now a practicing attorney in the St. Louis area. Tatum is the godson of former NBA player Larry Hughes, who was his father's high school and college teammate; he is also a cousin of former NBA player and current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. Tatum is a Christian, crediting Jesus for his success and career. While in high school at Chaminade College Preparatory School, Tatum was good friends with future NHL forward Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, as the two were placed in the same gym class. Tatum is also good friends with former Duke teammate and current NBA player Harry Giles. Tatum's son, Deuce, was born on December 6, 2017.