Jayson Tatum, Steals The Show

Becoming an NBA superstar wasnt Jayson Tatums biggest goal when he was a kid growing up in St. Louisit was his only goal. And now, having led an undermanned Boston Celtics team to the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals in only his rookie season, its officially a full-blown reality.

- Alex Squadron

Walking through the tunnels of the storied TD Garden with his son, photos snapping and media swarming, it suddenly hits. This is real. This is actually happening. “This shit is crazy.”

It’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Justin Tatum is at the arena early, now staring at his son as he goes through warm-ups, allowing the moment to sink in, feeling the weight of all of it.

For the past few weeks, Jayson Tatum has been at the forefront of a remarkable Celtics playoff run. He’s still a rookie. He’s merely 20 years old.

To stroll the packed hallways and watch as the seats fill up with fans, many of whom are wearing a jersey with the name Tatum on it, is an experience Justin describes as “surreal.”

“But, I mean, I guess I knew I was going to do it one day,” the father adds. “Because Jayson told me I would.”

“THERE WERE veterinarians, doctors, teachers, nurses, dentists.”

Jayson is reminiscing on an assignment from the second grade, one that sticks out vividly in his memory. Write a paragraph on what you want to be as an adult and share it with the class.

“I was like, I want to be in the NBA, and everybody kind of laughed at me,” he says.

Even the teacher encouraged him to choose something else, suggesting the goal was unattainable.

It was a dream born before Jayson could even talk, when he used to tag along to his father’s games at Saint Louis University as a toddler. Justin played a key role on a Billikens team that won the conference championship in 2000 and went on to pursue a brief career overseas.