Hey Lykkers, have you noticed the performance of Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics team?
Today, we will explore more achievements and backgrounds of this fantastic basketball player!
Gereral Background
Jayson Christopher Tatum, born March 3, 1998, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a McDonald's All-American in high school in Missouri and played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
Tatum was selected by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and was named to the NBA's First Team of Best Rookies for the 2018 season. Tatum won the inaugural NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2022 and won his first championship in the 2024 NBA Finals.
Early Period
Tatum attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur, Missouri. At the time, Tatum was in seventh grade and a first-year student at Chaminade, where he was inspired by Bradley Beal, a senior at the school. Tatum had a hard time adjusting to the school's college prep program, and his classmates were far superior to him.
Tatum's teammate was Tyler Cook, who took gym class with classmate Matthew Tkachuk. Tatum wants to play under his father, the head basketball coach at nearby University High School, but his mother prefers Chaminade, so Tatum will still study hard.
Play for the Duke University Team
The 2016-17 season was Tatum's rookie season for Duke, playing in 29 games and averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He was named to the ACC Rookie of the Year and the ACC Third-Team of the Year.
Tatum had a successful rookie season at Duke, ranking fourth in free throws made (118), fifth in rebounds, and fourth in free throw percentage (84.9 percent).
After his freshman season, Tatum opted to enter the 2017 NBA Draft as a “one-year signee” and is expected to be selected in the first round.
National Team Performance
Tatum participated in the 2014 FIBA U-17 World Championship and the 2015 FIBA U-19 World Championship. Tatum was named to the 2020 Olympic team, but due to the New Crown Epidemic, the U.S. did not compete in Tokyo until 2021. He helped the U.S. win the gold medal, averaging 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.2 caps on 49.3 percent shooting in six games.
Tatum was the second-highest-scoring player on the team behind Kevin Durant. He was also named to the 2024 Olympic team. The United States won the gold medal in a rematch with France.
Personal Life
Tatum's son Jayson Jr. (commonly known as “Deuce”) was born in 2017. Tatum lives in Newton, Massachusetts, where he purchased a mansion in 2019. In 2024, Tatum and singer-songwriter Ella Mai had their first child.
While attending high school at Chaminade College Preparatory School, Tatum was friends with future NHL forward Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, and the two were placed in the same physical education class.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading, Lykkers! What did you think of Jayson Tatum? Would you believe he will achieve more rewards in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
