Jayson Tatum recounts the touching moments he misses most without Deuce Tatum

Jayson Tatum welcomed his son, Deuce, with ex-girlfriend Toriah Lachell in 2017

Photo: Brian Babineau/NBAE

NBA star Jayson Tatum is a proud father of one special boy.

On Dec. 6, 2017, Tatum and his high school girlfriend, Toriah Lachell, welcomed Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Tatum Jr. during Tatum’s rookie year with the NBA. Deuce has since become an icon for Boston Celtics fans and an honorary part of his father’s team.

“On the court [I want Deuce to remember me as] … a competitor, somebody that just always wanted to win,” Tatum once said. “Every time he comes to the game, he sees how I give it my all, I’m doing everything I can in my power to help us win.”

Tatum won big in June 2024 when the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

From growing up together to courtside traditions, here’s everything to know about Jayson Tatum’s son, Deuce Tatum.

He was born shortly after Tatum was drafted into the NBA

Jayden Tatum Instagram

2017 was the “biggest year” for Tatum — he was the NBA’s third draft pick in June and, six months later, became a father.

“My mindset was not to sacrifice either. I was going to be the best father as well as the best basketball player,” Tatum said during a post-game press conference in 2022, recalling his first year in the league. “There was no guideline or there was no exact way to do it. It was all about what was natural.”

He continued, “I think being able to go through this journey together … 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 and [we’re] experiencing this together. I think it’s the coolest part for me.”

In October 2023, Tatum was a guest contributor for the NBA’s Starting 5 newsletter. He wrote about the downsides of being a father who travels often for work.

“Tough thing, depending on our schedule, is missing his birthday. There have been a few years when I wasn’t with him for his birthday. Also, not being able to go to every school event and or basketball practice because we are on the road,” he said. “Even though this is my 7th season, it’s still something that’s not easy to deal with because you never want to miss those things. They grow up so fast.”

He has become the unofficial mascot for the Boston Celtics

Deuce has caught the attention of both NBA fans and the Boston Celtics. The team has featured Deuce on their social media, including supporting coach Ime Udoka in a pre-game chant in May 2022 and presenting an All-Star ring to his dad.

He’s become close with Tatum’s teammates as well, even hitting Marcus Smart’s behind during a game in March 2022. “Deuce is always trying to attack me any time I come around him,” Smart told The Boston Globe. “That’s just who he is. We all love Deuce.”

Celtics forward Grant Williams also told the outlet that he and Deuce have a “love-hate relationship.” He explained, “There’s days where he comes in, gives me a hug, says, ‘What’s up?’ and daps me up. There’s other days where he looks at me crazy, kind of gives me a mean mug, punches me a few times, and keeps it moving.”

Deuce has supported his dad at many games, including a May 2023 match where the little boy participated in a kids’ dunk contest and met the dog who does halftime performances.

He crashes his dad’s interviews

Maddie Meyer/Getty

The little one is no stranger to the spotlight: In several of Tatum’s post-game interviews, Deuce has jumped into his father’s lap.

In May 2022, after the Celtics beat Milwaukee in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Deuce whispered something to his dad. Tatum asked his son, “What do you want to say? Do you want to say something?” A reporter then asked what Deuce will do when he visits Miami for the next game. Deuce took the mic and replied, “I will go swimming.”

His name is on all of Tatum’s sneakers

Brian Babineau/NBAE

It’s no accident that Tatum’s sneakers have markings peeking out from the inside. The Celtics player explained to The Bleacher Report that he writes his son’s nickname on all of his game-day kicks.

“For those that don’t know, I have a 4-year-old son, and that’s his nickname,” he said. “You know, Deuce is the real superstar in Boston. And it’s crazy to see the reception and the attention that he gets. When I found out I was having a child in my rookie year, never in my wildest dreams did I think that he would be as big as he is. Just his personality and I think that people recognize the relationship that we have.”

In December 2021, Tatum wore a pair of Air Jordans inspired by Deuce’s favorite book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, according to ESPN’s Nick DePaula. The year prior, Tatum brought children’s books into the NBA bubble to read to Deuce over FaceTime, including the book that inspired his sneakers.

He enjoys playing dress up and making music

Tatum has shared several photos of his son on social media over the years. In February 2021, the star forward shared a Snapchat video of the father-son duo singing karaoke. In December, he shared a photo of Deuce jamming out on a custom drum set. The set featured his name in the famous Boston Celtics font and colors.

Additionally, his father has shared photos of him playing with his superhero toys and costumes. He’s rocked several superhero costumes for Halloween, including Buzz Lightyear and Jack-Jack from The Incredibles.

After watching Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Deuce informed his dad that he’d like to be the web-slinging, wall-crawling superhero when he grows up.

“New spider man movie so good deuce told me, ‘daddy I think I changed my mind I might want to be spider man when I grow up. But I still want to be you,’ ” Tatum shared on Twitter. The NBA player added: “Good save son, good save!”

His parents met in high school

Tatum attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, where he met then-girlfriend Toriah Lachell. In an interview with Graham Bensinger, Tatum said he found out that Lachell was pregnant in early 2017, just as his freshman season at Duke University was ending and his professional career was taking off.

The new parents were both 19 years old when they welcomed Deuce in December.

He has game-day traditions

Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald

Deuce is a big part of the Celtics family. Aside from crashing interviews and being honored on his father’s sneakers, he frequents the locker room and a courtside seat. Deuce can be seen hyping up the team and giving players high-fives. He will typically appear courtside both before and after games.

Before every game in TD Garden during the postseason in 2022, Deuce stood by his father’s side during the national anthem.

Tatum loves growing up alongside him

Tatum enjoys being a young father as he and his son are “growing up together.”

In 2022, Tatum shared, “I think it’s cool that he’s going to be able to see me as my career goes, and as he’s getting older now, remember certain things and interact and things like that. It’s definitely a plus [being a young father].”

When asked about Deuce’s fans, the basketball player added, “Every time he comes to a home game, people cheer when they see him. They scream his name when he comes to games on the road and here at All-Star [Weekend]. He has his own personality.”

The NBA player celebrated Deuce’s fifth birthday by making him giant pancakes and giving him a special shout-out on Instagram.

“Deuce Day!! Happy 5th birthday to my best friend in the world🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽Love you kid ❤️,” Tatum captioned a carousel of images with his son.

He’s a budding basketball player

According to Celtics player Grant Williams, Deuce already has some impressive basketball skills. Deuce has even handed out water bottles and towels to Tatum’s teammates.

“He’s a great passer,” Williams told The Boston Globe. “He’s a better passer than his dad sometimes. Honestly, though, he’s gotten so much better, too. He can dribble with both hands now. His jump shot looks good. He’s on his way. He’s coming.”

Deuce has also shown off his ball-handling skills during warmups.

In March 2024, Tatum told PEOPLE that Deuce is now playing on an organized basketball team. “So he’s really starting to fall in love with the game. It’s exciting to see that,” he shared.

He inspired his dad’s signature shoe with Nike

Tatum designed his first signature shoe — the Tatum 1 — under Nike’s Jordan Brand. The shoe comes in four colorways, including a black and red pair called “The Zoo,” which was inspired by Deuce’s love for animals.

“His name is on the inside,” Tatum told NBA on TNT. “People older than you and people younger than you can inspire you. My son has inspired me in more ways than I could have imagined.”

While working with Nike, the Celtics player was adamant that the Tatum 1 come in kids’ sizes.

“I remember being a kid, walking into the store, and looking for the signature shoes of my favorite players. The moment I saw the shoe or put the shoe on, I felt like I was in sync and closer to them in a way,” he said. “So, I want this shoe to be a bridge between my fans and me to bring us closer together.”

He watched his dad throw the first pitch at a Cardinals game

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty

In August 2023, Tatum was invited to throw the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. Deuce stood next to his dad on the mound as the NBA player delivered a strike to the catcher.

He watched his dad win the 2024 NBA Finals

Jayson Tatum celebrates during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024.Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty

In June 2024, the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Photos captured Tatum and Deuce celebrating on the court as green and white confetti rained down from the ceiling at TD Garden.

“He told me you’re the best in the world. I said, ‘You’re damn right I am,’ ” Tatum said to reporters when asked to recount his exchange with Deuce following the big game.