NBA star Jayson Tatum is headed back to the Olympics to reclaim the gold, and there’s no doubt his son will be cheering him on from the sidelines.
NBA basketball star Jayson Tatum won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which took place in 2021, and he’s gearing up to do it again at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Tatum’s career has been a slam dunk. During his senior season at Chaminade College Preparatory School in Missouri, he averaged 29.5 points and 9.1 rebounds, earning numerous accolades including 2016 Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year, Gatorade National Player, Naismith Trophy All-American, Max-Preps All-American, and USA Today All-USA First Team. He played one year at Duke University before declaring for the NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Boston Celtics as the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 Draft. He has remained with the Celtics ever since.
In the 2023-24 season, Tatum led the Celtics in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 26.9 points per game. His performance was instrumental in securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 overall record.
The 26-year-old has been named an All-Star in each of the past five seasons. He earned his first All-NBA First Team designation in 2022.
Tatum also created the Jayson Tatum Foundation, and each year the organization sponsors 100 boys and girls to attend an all-expenses paid one day summer Basketball Camp and Leadership Program.
Here’s a look at Jayson Tatum’s personal and professional life.
His Relationship with Singer Ella Mai
Jayson Tatum attends “NYC Point Gods” premiere at Midnight Theatre on July 26, 2022 in New York City; Ella Mai attends the French Open 2022 at Roland Garros on June 05, 2022 in Paris, France.
Jayson Tatum may share glimpses of his personal life, but he keeps his romantic life under wraps.
For years, rumors have swirled that the basketball player is dating British R&B singer Ella Mai. They have been spotted at each other’s houses on multiple occasions and made their first public appearance together at Michael Rubin’s Fourth of July White Party in 2022, according to the NY Post. Speculation intensified when both attended his former teammate Marcus Smart’s wedding in 2023. The NY Post even published a photo showing Tatum with his arm around Ella Mai at the wedding, seemingly confirming the rumors.
However, there’s no official word on how the pair met or if they are indeed dating.
His son Deuce Tatum is his biggest fan
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics stands with his son Deuce Tatum prior to game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on May 29, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Jayson Tatum’s rookie year in the NBA was particularly memorable, as he and his high school girlfriend, Toriah Lachell, welcomed their son Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Tatum Jr. on December 6, 2017. Since then, Deuce has become an honorary part of his dad’s team and his biggest cheerleader.
Deuce is not only a fan favorite among the Celtics players but has also stolen the spotlight in several of Tatum’s post-game interviews by jumping into his father’s lap. He has supported his dad at numerous games, including a May 2023 match where he participated in a kids’ dunk contest and met the dog who performs at halftime. Deuce is also a highlight on the team’s social media, frequently visiting the locker room and sitting courtside, where he hypes up the team by giving players high-fives.
While Deuce isn’t on the court during the game, he is never far from his dad’s mind. According to PEOPLE, Tatum writes Deuce’s name on all of his game day shoes. In August 2023, when Tatum was invited to throw the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game, Deuce was right beside him as he delivered a strike to the catcher.
Having Deuce by his side has been Jayson’s favorite aspect of his career, allowing him to be a constant presence in his son’s life.
“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,” Jayson said in a post-game conference.
Tatum’s Olympic Career
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates a basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter in game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023 in Boston.
This won’t be Tatum’s first go round with the Olympic Team. He was on the 2020 USA Team that played in Tokyo. The United States men’s basketball team won against France for its 16th first place finish in the Olympic Games. Tatum was the youngest member of Team USA, and he finished second on the squad with 19 points and a team leading seven rebounds. He became the first Celtics player to win Olympic Gold since Larry Bird in 1992 according to the NBA.
For the 2024 team, Tatum is a part of the 12-player roster consisting of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Tyrese Haliburton.