Jayson Tatum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jayson Tatum

Tatum with the Boston Celtics in 2021
No. 0 – Boston Celtics
Small forward / power forward
Personal information
Born	(1998-03-03) March 3, 1998 (age 27) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
High school	Chaminade (Creve Coeur, Missouri)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	Duke (2016–2017)
NBA Draft	2017 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career	2017–present
League	NBA
Career history
2017–present	Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2024) 6× NBA All-Star (2020–2025) NBA All-Star Game MVP (2023) 3× All-NBA First Team (2022–2024) All-NBA Third Team (2020) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018) Third-team All-ACC (2017) ACC All-Freshman team (2017) Gatorade National Player of the Year (2016) McDonald's All-American (2016) Mr. Show-Me Basketball (2016)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team Gold 2024 Paris Team FIBA U19 World Championship Gold 2015 Greece Team FIBA U17 World Championship Gold 2014 Dubai Team

Jayson Christopher Tatum (born March 3, 1998) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Jayson was a top high school player. He was named a McDonald's All-American and played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. In 2017, the Boston Celtics chose him as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He quickly became a star, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first year.

Tatum has been selected as an NBA All-Star six times. He has also been named to the All-NBA Team four times. In 2022, he won the first-ever NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. In 2024, he led the Celtics to win the NBA championship. Jayson has also won gold medals with the U.S. Olympic team in 2020 and 2024. He holds several NBA records, including the most points scored in an NBA All-Star Game (55 points).

Early Basketball Days

Jayson Tatum went to Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur, Missouri. He looked up to Bradley Beal, who was a senior at Chaminade when Jayson was in seventh grade.

Even though school was tough, Jayson worked hard. He played basketball with Tyler Cook. Jayson's mom wanted him to stay at Chaminade to focus on his studies.

High School Highlights

As a freshman, Jayson averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He helped his team win local championships.

In his sophomore year (2014), he averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds per game.

As a junior, Jayson averaged 25.9 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He was named a Second-team Naismith Trophy All-American. In the summer of 2015, he played for the St. Louis Eagles AAU team. He led the EYBL league in scoring with 26.5 points per game.

Before his senior year, Jayson decided to go to Duke University. Many top colleges like North Carolina and Kentucky wanted him.

Tatum at the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic

In his senior year (2015–16), Jayson averaged 29.6 points and 9.1 rebounds. He scored 40 points in six different games. He led Chaminade to win its second Missouri Class 5A state championship.

Jayson was chosen for the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game. He led the East Team with 18 points. He also played in the Jordan Brand Classic. Jayson was named the 2016 Gatorade National Player of the Year. This award goes to the best high school athlete in the country.

College Career at Duke

Tatum finishes a slam dunk in 2017

Jayson Tatum missed the first eight games of his college season due to a foot injury. He played his first game for Duke on December 3, 2016. He scored 10 points in a big win against Maine.

He quickly showed his talent, scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a game against Florida. He was named the ACC Freshman of the Week twice.

Jayson had a season-high 28 points against Virginia. He helped Duke win the ACC tournament championship. He averaged 22 points and 7.5 rebounds during the tournament.

Duke made it to the NCAA tournament. They won their first game but lost in the second round. In his freshman year, Jayson averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He was named to the ACC All-Freshman team.

After his successful freshman year, Jayson decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft.

Professional Career with the Celtics

Rookie Season (2017–18)

Tatum (left) attempting a shot against the Washington Wizards in April 2018

The Boston Celtics traded their first pick in the 2017 NBA draft to get the third overall pick. They used it to select Jayson Tatum. He joined Jaylen Brown, who was also a No. 3 pick the year before. They became known as the "Jays."

In his first NBA game, Jayson scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He scored a season-high 24 points against the New York Knicks soon after. He was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December 2017.

The Celtics had a great season, finishing with 55 wins. In the 2018 NBA playoffs, Jayson played a big role. He scored 19 points and 10 rebounds in his first playoff game. He kept breaking his own playoff scoring records.

Jayson became the first Celtics rookie since Larry Bird to score 25 or more points in a playoff game. He also became the youngest player to score at least 20 points in four straight playoff games, passing Kobe Bryant. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only rookies to score 20 or more points in 10 playoff games. Jayson was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team (First Team).

Becoming an All-Star (2019–20)

In December 2019, Jayson scored a career-high 39 points against the Charlotte Hornets. He then topped that with 41 points against the New Orleans Pelicans in January 2020.

On January 30, Jayson was named an NBA All-Star for the first time. He scored 39 points again in a double-overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team.

In the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals. They lost to the Miami Heat in six games.

First NBA Finals Appearance (2021–22)

Tatum at the NBA All-Star Game in 2022

In October 2021, Jayson scored 41 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists against the Charlotte Hornets. In January 2022, he scored a season-high 51 points against the Washington Wizards. He was selected for his third straight All-Star game.

In March 2022, Jayson scored 54 points against the Brooklyn Nets. This was his fourth time scoring 50+ points in a game, tying Larry Bird for the most 50-point games in Celtics history.

In the 2022 NBA playoffs, Jayson led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals. He scored 46 points in a crucial Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks to force a Game 7. In Game 7, he scored 23 points to lead the Celtics to victory.

Jayson was named the first-ever Eastern Conference Finals MVP. He led the Celtics to their first NBA Finals since 2010. In Game 1 of the Finals, he had 13 assists, a record for a player in their Finals debut. The Celtics lost the series to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

All-Star Game MVP (2022–23)

In November 2022, Jayson scored 49 points and 11 rebounds against the Miami Heat. He became the youngest player to make 900 three-pointers. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October and November.

In January 2023, Jayson recorded his second career triple-double (29 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) against the Dallas Mavericks. He scored a season-high 51 points against the Charlotte Hornets, passing Larry Bird for the most 50-point regular season games in Celtics history.

Jayson was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. In the All-Star Game, he scored 55 points, breaking the record for most points in an All-Star Game. He also won the game's Most Valuable Player award. He became the first player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in the regular season, the playoffs, and the All-Star Game in the same year.

Jayson finished the season averaging 30.1 points per game. This made him the only player in Celtics history to average at least 30 points per game in a season.

In the 2023 NBA playoffs, Jayson set a new record for most points scored in a Game 7 with 51 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. He became the first Celtics player to have multiple 50-point playoff games. The Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals again but lost to the Miami Heat.

First NBA Championship (2023–24)

Tatum holding Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy before the parade.

In November 2023, Jayson became the youngest Celtic to reach 10,000 career points. He scored a season-high 45 points against the Charlotte Hornets. In January 2024, he was named an Eastern Conference starter for his fifth straight All-Star Game.

In February 2024, Jayson scored 41 points against the Brooklyn Nets. He joined Paul Pierce and Jaylen Brown as the only Celtics players to make 1,000 three-pointers. The Celtics finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA.

In the 2024 NBA playoffs, Jayson recorded his first career playoff triple-double (23 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) against the Miami Heat. In the Eastern Conference Finals, he scored 36 points twice against the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics won the series and advanced to the 2024 NBA Finals.

In the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Jayson had 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds in Game 2. He and Jaylen Brown became the first Celtics duo to each score at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in an NBA Finals game. The Celtics won the series in five games, making Jayson Tatum an NBA champion! He led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists during their championship run.

Record-Breaking Contract (2024–25)

In July 2024, Jayson Tatum signed a huge five-year contract extension worth up to $314 million. This made it the richest deal in NBA history at the time.

In November 2024, he scored 24 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, including a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Toronto Raptors. In December, Jayson scored a season-high 43 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Chicago Bulls. He became the first Celtics player to have 40+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 10+ assists in a single game.

Playing for Team USA

Jayson Tatum has played for the USA national basketball team several times. He won gold medals at the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

He was part of the 2020 Olympic team that played in Tokyo in 2021. He helped Team USA win the gold medal, averaging 15.2 points per game. He was the second-highest scorer on the team. Jayson also played for the 2024 Olympic team and won another gold medal in Paris.

Jayson Tatum's Life Off the Court

Jayson Tatum's parents are Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole-Barnes. His father used to play professional basketball and is now a coach in Australia. His mother raised Jayson as a single mom. She went to college and law school while raising him.

Jayson has a son named Jayson Jr., who is often called "Deuce." Deuce was born in 2017. Jayson lives in Newton, Massachusetts. In 2024, Jayson and singer-songwriter Ella Mai had their first child together.

Jayson is the godson of former NBA player Larry Hughes. He is also a cousin of former NBA player and current coach Tyronn Lue.

In high school, Jayson was friends with NHL player Matthew Tkachuk. They were in gym class together. Both Jayson and Matthew won their league championships in 2024 within a week of each other! Jayson is also friends with his former Duke teammate, Harry Giles.

Jayson is a Christian and believes his faith helps him succeed. He has tattoos that show his Christian beliefs. Jayson also runs the Jayson Tatum Foundation. This foundation helps low-income families build a better future.

Endorsements and Partnerships

Jayson Tatum has partnered with several companies. He has been a spokesperson for Imo's Pizza. In 2019, he signed with the Jordan Brand, which is part of Nike. In 2023, he even got his own signature shoe called the Jordan Tatum 1. He also works with Subway and Gatorade.

In 2024, Jayson teamed up with SoFi, a financial company. They donated $1 million to his foundation to help people buy homes in his hometown of St. Louis. Jayson talked about this on CBS News. He said growing up in a single-parent home made him care a lot about money management. In July 2024, Jayson was chosen to be on the cover of the video game NBA 2K25.

NBA Achievements

Regular Season Records

• One of only three players to score 60+ points in a game without any turnovers.
• Led the entire NBA in plus-minus (a stat showing how much a player helps their team) in 2022.
• Led the entire NBA in total points scored in 2023.

Playoff Records

• Scored the most points ever in a Game 7 (51 points).
• Had the most assists in an NBA Finals debut (13 assists).
• Scored the most playoff points by a player before turning 27 years old.
• One of six players to lead their team in total points, rebounds, and assists during a championship playoff run. Jayson is the youngest and shortest player to do this!
• One of two players to lead both teams in a playoff series in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks (the other is LeBron James).
• Recorded two games with 50+ points in the playoffs.
• Scored 25+ points in a half in a playoff game 10 times.
• One of two players with 50+ points and zero turnovers in a playoff game.
• Youngest player to score 25+ points in a playoff game.
• Scored the second-most playoff points by a player in their rookie year, only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
• Scored the most points in a single play-in tournament game (50 points).

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2017–18	Boston	80	80	30.5	.475	.434	.826	5.0	1.6	1.0	.7	13.9
2018–19	Boston	79	79	31.1	.450	.373	.855	6.0	2.1	1.1	.7	15.7
2019–20	Boston	66	66	34.3	.450	.403	.812	7.0	3.0	1.4	.9	23.4
2020–21	Boston	64	64	35.8	.459	.386	.868	7.4	4.3	1.2	.5	26.4
2021–22	Boston	76	76	35.9	.453	.353	.853	8.0	4.4	1.0	.6	26.9
2022–23	Boston	74	74	36.9	.466	.350	.854	8.8	4.6	1.1	.7	30.1
2023–24	Boston	74	74	35.7	.471	.376	.833	8.1	4.9	1.0	.6	26.9
Career		513	513	34.2	.460	.375	.844	7.2	3.5	1.1	.7	23.1
All-Star		5	4	21.5	.590	.386	.500	4.4	4.8	2.0	.4	22.0

NBA Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2018	Boston	19	19	35.9	.471	.324	.845	4.4	2.7	1.2	.5	18.5
2019	Boston	9	9	32.8	.438	.323	.744	6.7	1.9	1.1	.8	15.2
2020	Boston	17	17	40.6	.434	.373	.813	10.0	5.0	1.0	1.2	25.7
2021	Boston	5	5	37.0	.423	.389	.918	5.8	4.6	1.2	1.6	30.6
2022	Boston	24	24	41.0	.426	.393	.800	6.7	6.2	1.2	.9	25.6
2023	Boston	20	20	40.0	.458	.323	.876	10.5	5.3	1.1	1.1	27.2
2024	Boston	19	19	40.4	.427	.283	.861	9.7	6.3	1.1	.7	25.0
Career		113	113	39.0	.440	.345	.838	7.9	4.9	1.1	.9	24.0

College Statistics

See also

In Spanish: Jayson Tatum para niños

• List of NBA career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-game scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-game playoff scoring leaders