Jayson Tatum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jayson Tatum

Tatum with the Boston Celtics in 2024
No. 0 – Boston Celtics
Small forward / power forward
Personal information
Born	(1998-03-03) March 3, 1998 (age 28) 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) 4× All-NBA First Team (2022–2025) 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 Sr. (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, earning the title of McDonald's All-American. He then played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.

The Boston Celtics chose Jayson as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. In his first year, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Jayson won the first-ever NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP award in 2022. He also led his team to their first championship in the 2024 NBA Finals in 2024.

People sometimes call Jayson "the Anomaly" because of his amazing skills. He has been an NBA All-Star six times and an All-NBA selection five times. He and Jaylen Brown are known as the Celtics' "Jays" duo. In 2024, Jayson helped the Celtics win 64 games, the most in the league, and secure an NBA championship. He also won gold medals with the U.S. Olympic team in 2020 and 2024. Jayson holds records for most points in an NBA All-Star Game (55) and most points in a Game 7 of an NBA playoffs series (51).

Early Basketball Journey

High School Success

Jayson Tatum went to Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur, Missouri. He looked up to Bradley Beal, who was an older student and a great basketball player there. Jayson's mother wanted him to attend Chaminade to focus on his studies.

As a freshman, Jayson quickly showed his talent. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He was even named Co-Player of the Year in his conference in 2013. He helped his team win local championships.

In his sophomore year (2014), Jayson's performance grew, averaging 26.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. By his junior year, he was averaging 25.9 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He earned national honors for his play. During the summer of 2015, he played for the St. Louis Eagles in a competitive league. He was a top scorer, averaging 26.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Before his senior year, Jayson decided to commit to Duke University. He chose Duke over other famous basketball schools.

Jayson Tatum at the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic

In his senior year (2015–16), Jayson averaged 29.6 points and 9.1 rebounds. He led Chaminade to a state championship. He had many games where he scored over 40 points. Jayson was chosen for the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game, a special game for the best high school players. He also played in the Jordan Brand Classic. In 2016, he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, a huge honor for a high school athlete.

Becoming a Top Recruit

Jayson was considered a five-star recruit, meaning he was one of the very best high school players in the country. He was ranked among the top small forwards in the 2016 class.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Jayson Tatum SF	St. Louis, MO	Chaminade College Prep	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Jul 12, 2015
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 97
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 4   Rivals: 3  ESPN: 3
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

College Basketball at Duke

Jayson Tatum finishes a slam dunk for Duke in 2017

Jayson joined the Duke Blue Devils for the 2016–17 season. He missed the first few games because of a foot injury. When he finally played, he quickly showed his skills. In his first game, he scored 10 points. Soon after, he had a game with 22 points and eight rebounds.

Jayson was named the ACC Freshman of the Week twice during the season. He scored a season-high 28 points in a game against Virginia. He helped Duke win the ACC tournament championship. He was a key player in their victory over rival North Carolina in the semifinals.

For the season, Jayson played 29 games. He averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He was recognized as one of the best new players, earning a spot on the ACC All-Freshman team. After just one successful year at Duke, Jayson decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft. He was expected to be a top pick.

Professional NBA Career

Joining the Boston Celtics (2017–present)

The Boston Celtics chose Jayson Tatum as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He joined Jaylen Brown, who was also a No. 3 pick the year before. Together, they became known as the Celtics' "Jays" duo.

Rookie Season (2017–18)

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

Jayson made his NBA debut on October 17, 2017. He scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He quickly showed he belonged in the league. He was named the Eastern Conference's Rookie of the Month in December 2017.

The Celtics had a great season, finishing with 55 wins. In the 2018 NBA playoffs, Jayson continued to shine. He scored 19 points and 10 rebounds in his first playoff game. He set a new playoff career-high with 28 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. He became the first Celtics rookie since Larry Bird to score 25 or more points in a playoff game. Jayson also became the youngest player to score at least 20 points in four straight playoff games. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team First Team.

Sophomore Season (2018–19)

Jayson Tatum in October 2018

In his second season, Jayson continued to improve. He had 23 points and nine rebounds in the first game of the season. He also recorded 24 points and 14 rebounds in a close win against the New York Knicks. During the NBA All-Star Weekend, Jayson won the Skills Challenge competition.

First All-Star and All-NBA Appearances (2019–20)

On December 22, 2019, Jayson scored a career-high 39 points. He then topped that with 41 points against the New Orleans Pelicans in January 2020. On January 30, Jayson was chosen as an NBA All-Star for the first time. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team at the end of the season.

In the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals. This was Jayson's second time reaching this stage in three years. However, the Celtics were eliminated by the Miami Heat.

Play-in Appearance and First Round Exit (2020–21)

Before the season, Jayson signed a big five-year contract extension with the Celtics. On December 23, 2020, he scored 30 points and hit a game-winning three-pointer against the Milwaukee Bucks. He later scored a season-high 40 points against the Toronto Raptors. Jayson was selected for his second straight All-Star Game.

On April 9, Jayson had a career-high 53 points in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became the youngest Celtics player to score 50+ points. He also recorded his first career triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. On May 4, Jayson led the Celtics to a huge comeback win against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored a career-high 60 points, tying Larry Bird for the most points ever by a Celtics player in a game.

In the play-in tournament, Jayson scored 50 points to lead the Celtics to a win. This secured their spot in the 2021 NBA playoffs. In Game 3 of the first round against the Brooklyn Nets, he scored another 50 points. He became the first player in NBA playoff history to score 50 points after scoring single digits in the previous game.

All-NBA First Team and First NBA Finals (2021–22)

Jayson Tatum at the NBA All-Star Game in 2022

Jayson had another amazing season, leading the league in a stat called "plus-minus." On January 23, 2022, he scored a season-high 51 points against the Washington Wizards. He was chosen for his third straight All-Star appearance. On March 6, Jayson scored 54 points against the Brooklyn Nets. This was his fourth time scoring 50+ points, tying Larry Bird for the most in Celtics history.

In the 2022 NBA playoffs, Jayson was outstanding. He hit a game-winning layup in Game 1 against the Nets. He scored 39 points and had a playoff career-high six steals in Game 3. The Celtics swept the Nets to advance. In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, he scored 46 points in Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks to force a Game 7. The Celtics won Game 7, and Jayson led them to their first NBA Finals since 2010.

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

All-Star Game MVP (2022–23)

On November 30, 2022, Jayson scored 49 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He became the youngest NBA player to make 900 three-pointers. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October and November. On December 25, Jayson scored 41 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.

On January 5, 2023, Jayson recorded his second career triple-double. Six days later, he and Jaylen Brown combined for 70+ points for the tenth time. On January 16, Jayson scored a season-high 51 points against the Charlotte Hornets. He passed Larry Bird for the most 50-point regular season games in Celtics history. He also grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors. Jayson was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.

On February 19, Jayson scored 55 points in the NBA All-Star Game, 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, playoffs, and All-Star Game. Jayson finished the season averaging 30.1 points per game, the highest in Celtics history.

In the 2023 NBA playoffs, Jayson scored a playoff career-high 51 points in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. This broke the record for most points in a Game 7. He also became the first Celtics player with multiple 50-point playoff games. The Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost in seven games to the Heat.

First NBA Championship (2023–24)

On November 4, 2023, Jayson became the youngest Celtic to reach 10,000 career points. On November 20, he scored a season-high 45 points against the Charlotte Hornets. He was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, his fifth straight selection.

On February 13, 2024, Jayson scored 41 points against the Brooklyn Nets. He joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics players with at least 25 40-point games. On March 9, Jayson became the third Celtic to make 1,000 three-pointers. The Celtics finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA.

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

In the 2024 NBA playoffs, Jayson recorded his first career playoff triple-double in Game 1 against the Miami Heat. He scored 36 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics won the series and advanced to the 2024 NBA Finals. Jayson became one of only six players in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, and assists while reaching the NBA Finals.

In Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Jayson had 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds. In Game 3, he scored 31 points. He and Jaylen Brown became the first Celtics duo to each have at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in an NBA Finals game. The Celtics won the series in five games, with Jayson scoring 31 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds in the final game. He became the sixth player to lead his team in points, rebounds, and assists during a championship run.

Record-Breaking Contract and Injury (2024–25)

On July 1, 2024, Jayson signed a five-year contract extension worth up to $314 million. This was the richest deal in NBA history at the time.

On November 16, 2024, Jayson hit a game-winning three-pointer in overtime against the Toronto Raptors. On December 21, he scored a season-high 43 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Chicago Bulls. He became the first Celtics player to record 40+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 10+ assists in a game. He also joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics with 40-point triple-doubles.

On January 25, 2025, Jayson was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. This was his sixth straight selection. On February 28, he recorded season-highs with 46 points and 16 rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On April 29, in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs, Jayson scored 35 points. He made 11 free throws without a miss, extending a record for consecutive playoff games with 10+ made free throws without a miss. He also tied Larry Bird for the second-most consecutive 35-point playoff games for a Celtic. In Game 4 of the second round on May 12, Jayson scored 42 points against the New York Knicks. He tied Larry Bird and John Havlicek for the most 40-point playoff games in Celtics history. Sadly, in the final minutes of that game, Jayson injured his Achilles tendon. He had surgery the next day and was unable to play for the rest of the season. The Celtics lost in Game 6.

Recovery and Return (2025–26)

Ten months after his Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum returned to play. He made his 2025–26 season debut on March 6, 2026. In that game against the Dallas Mavericks, he scored 15 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and had seven assists. The Celtics won the game 120–100.

National Team Career

Jayson has proudly represented the USA in international basketball. He played in the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. He helped Team USA win gold medals in both tournaments.

He was part of the 2020 Olympic team, which played in Tokyo in 2021. He helped Team USA win the gold medal, averaging 15.2 points per game. Jayson was also named to the 2024 Olympic team. This team also won a gold medal in Paris.

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
2024–25	Boston	72	72	36.4	.452	.343	.814	8.7	6.0	1.1	.5	26.8
Career		585	585	34.5	.459	.370	.840	7.4	3.8	1.1	.7	23.6
All-Star		6	5	21.5	.618	.408	.500	4.5	4.7	1.7	.5	21.8

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
2025	Boston	8	8	40.3	.423	.372	.889	11.5	5.4	2.1	.8	28.1
Career		121	121	39.0	.439	.348	.841	8.2	4.9	1.2	.9	24.3

College

NBA Achievements

Regular Season Records

• One of three players to score 60+ points without any turnovers.
• Led the entire NBA in plus-minus in 2022.
• Led the entire NBA in total points scored in 2023.
• Has the second most points scored in the 2020s decade.
• Has the third most wins in the 2020s decade.

Playoff Records

• Most points ever scored in a Game 7 with 51.
• Most assists in an NBA Finals debut game with 13.
• Most playoff points scored by a player before turning 27 years old.
• Second most playoff rebounds by a player before turning 27 (only behind Bill Russell).
• One of six players to lead a championship team in total points, rebounds, and assists during their playoff run. The others are Nikola Jokić, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, and Larry Bird. Jayson is the youngest and shortest player to achieve this.
• One of two players to lead both teams in a playoff series in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks (alongside LeBron James).
• Tied with LeBron James (2018) for most games with 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a single playoff run (7 games in 2023).
• One of six players to lead his team in points, rebounds, and assists in an NBA Finals series. The others are Luka Dončić, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, and Larry Bird.
• Recorded two playoff games with 50+ points. Only Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Allen Iverson, and Donovan Mitchell have more.
• Scored 25+ points in a half in a playoff game 10 times. Since 1997, only LeBron James (21), Kobe Bryant (17), Kevin Durant (12), and Donovan Mitchell (11) have done it more.
• 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 (behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).
• Most points scored in a single play-in tournament game with 50.

Personal Life

Jayson Tatum is the son of Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole-Barnes. His father is a former professional basketball player and a coach. His mother was a college student when Jayson was born. She raised Jayson and earned several college degrees, including in law and business.

Jayson's son, Jayson Jr., is often called "Deuce." He was born in 2017. Jayson lives in Newton, Massachusetts. In 2024, Jayson and singer-songwriter Ella Mai welcomed their first child together.

Jayson is the godson of former NBA player Larry Hughes. Larry was his father's teammate in high school and college. Jayson is also a cousin of former NBA player and current coach Tyronn Lue.

While in high school, Jayson became friends with NHL player Matthew Tkachuk. They were in the same gym class. 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 often talks about his faith. He has several tattoos that show his Christian beliefs. Jayson also runs the Jayson Tatum Foundation. This foundation helps families build financial stability, especially in his hometown of St. Louis.

Off the Court Activities

Duke University Role

In October 2025, Jayson Tatum was named the Chief Basketball Officer for Duke Blue Devils men's basketball. In this role, he volunteers his time as a special advisor to the Duke University basketball program.

Endorsements and Community Work

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

In February 2024, Jayson teamed up with the financial company SoFi. They worked together to help people buy homes in his hometown of St. Louis. SoFi donated $1 million to the Jayson Tatum Foundation for this project. Jayson also appeared on CBS News to talk about helping people with home ownership and financial literacy. He shared that growing up in a single-parent home made him care deeply about personal finance. In July 2024, Jayson was featured as the cover athlete for the video game NBA 2K25.

See also

In Spanish: Jayson Tatum para niños