Jayson Tatum

Jayson Christopher Tatum Sr. is a professional basketball player. He gained initial popularity in 2016 when he was titled the Gatorade National Player of the Year. Later he became one of the best players at Duke University, and finally, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics.

To know more about the rising NBA star and his family members, continue reading.

Jayson Tatum kids

Jayson Tatum Jr (son)

Date of birth: December 6, 2017

In 2017 Jayson witnessed two very important events in his life, being just a 19-year-old boy. First of all, he was drafted by Boston Celtics. And secondly, he became a father for the first time. He welcomed his son Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr. with his school sweetheart Toriah Lachell.

The boy has already become a celebrity, although he is still very little. Jayson’s son, usually nicknamed Deuce, has become the mascot of his father’s team Celtics. Deuce is featured on the official page of this well-known NBA team.

Although Jayson separated from his son’s mother, he is still present in his kid’s life. In his interview Jayson confessed that his son’s year of birth coincided with the start of his career, so they are growing up together.

Deuce is a frequent guest at his father’s matches. Jayson Sr. opened up, that he tries to play better, knowing that his son is watching him. He also has his son’s name written on all his sneakers. Their cordial relationships became an example for many NBA young fathers.

Currently, Deuce shares his time between his mother’s and father’s homes. He likes singing karaoke songs and playing the drums. Although his musical activity is a kind of a joke nowadays, who knows, what it would mean in the future.

Who are Jayson Tatum parents?

Justin Tatum (father)

Date of birth: April 11, 1979

Jayson’s parents welcomed him in their late teens, while both were studying in college. Although they were not married, both shared their parenthood duties. Jayson is very close with his father nowadays. Justin is very proud of his son Jay not just because of his NBA career, but also because of his ability to be a great dad to Deuce.

Justin Ward Tatum was born in Saint Louis, MO. He is the son of James Tatum, a financier, and Rose Mary Johnson, the educator and school principal. She was also a military servant and retired as a master sergeant. Justin’s grandmother grew up in St. Louis and was a neighbor and close friend of the Celtics star and NBA player Jo Jo White. That’s an irony of fate, that his son Jay was also drafted by the Celtics in 2017. Then Justin told in his interview with “Boston Globe” that his son’s draft was “a destiny”.

Justin studied at a high school with Larry Hughes, the ex-Philadelphia 76ers player. Later Larry became Jayson’s godson. He also grew up with a sister Kristen Tatum-Lawson, the real estate consultant.

Often nicknamed Tat, Justin played for the basketball team “Bearcats” at McKendree University. He dreamed to become a professional basketball player and shortly performed for the Holland team Leeuwarden. Later he became a gym teacher and coach. For 6 years he coached kids at Soldan International Studies High School. He still works at the Best Summer Basketball Camp in St. Louis, MO.

Previously, he majored in criminal justice at College at Saint Louis University.

Jayson’s father is ranked as one of the best basketball coaches in Missouri. Besides, he is a father of 2 sons and a daughter.

Brandy Cole (mother)

Date of birth: April 25, 1979

Although Jay’s father was the first person, who gave a ball into his hand and taught him to play basketball, his mother was that strong woman, who inspired him to win.

Brandy Nicole Cole was raised by a single mother Kristie Jursch, a Missouri Southern State University graduate.  Brandy has 2 sisters, Christan and Heather Shelton. Brandy was an aspiring athlete at a high school. She studied law at Saint Louis University when she suddenly felt, she was pregnant. During the first trimester, she didn’t tell her mom about the pregnancy. She knew that Kristie wished for a better future for her daughter – happy marriage, and career, but not the fate of a single mom.

When Kristie learned about her daughter’s pregnancy, she supported Brandy. But her daughter wanted to be independent, so she left her mom’s house soon after Jay’s birth. At first, Brandy struggled a lot, sharing her time between studying at the college and babysitting for a neighbor. Her son Jay saw, how hard she worked. That inspired him to succeed, too.

The NBA player Jayson Tatum shares a close bond with his mom. He knew, that they grew up together – she as an attorney and he as an athlete.

Now Brandy works at Better Family Life, Inc. as a compliance manager. She is married to Marcus Lavale Barnes, whose daughter from the first marriage Miyah is an aspiring basketball player, too.

Jayson Tatum siblings

 Jaycob Tatum (younger half-brother from the paternal side)

Date of birth: January 27, 2004

Jayson maintains warm relationships with his younger paternal half-brother Jaycob Tatum. His father Justin welcomed Jacob with his ex-girlfriend Bexx Batiste, a physician, who is currently married to Robert Joseph Ferrier.

Although Bex and Justin separated, he remained close to his son Jacob. Jay and his younger half-brother spent a lot of time together. Like other Tatum boys, Jacob became an athlete. He won two championships as a member of the American football team at CBC High School. He continued playing American football at Western Illinois University.

Kayden Tatum (younger half-sister from paternal side)

Date of birth: April 2014

Kay Marie Tatum is Jay’s only sister from the paternal side. The girl is a 3rd-grade pupil as of 2023. She spends a lot of time with her father and paternal grandmother Rose. The name of the girl’s mother is undisclosed. Like her brother, Kay is very athletic. She dances and plays various kinds of sports games.