A Very Merry Shopping Spree
ESPN The Magazine|December 2018/January 2019

​We took Boston swingman Jayson Tatum on a fast break through the mall to find presents for teammates and loved ones on Christmas Day. (And boy, is he about to make Brad Stevens one happy coach.)

A Very Merry Shopping Spree

JAYSON TATUM IS on the clock. The game: one hour of Christmas shopping at Natick Mall, 21 miles outside Boston, with an assist from his trusty elf—me. Says the rising Celtics sophomore: “Play hard, box out, get back on D, let’s win.”

0:59 We’ve taken a wrong turn in Macy’s. “Nothing here for us,” the 6-foot-8 forward says as we peruse ladies’ undergarments.

0:55 We’re in the holiday section hunting for a fake Christmas tree. “Easier to clean up,” Tatum explains, adding that he never had a tree in the childhood home he shared with his mom, Brandy, who had Jayson when she was 18 and went on to earn a law degree. Tatum, who became a dad last December at 19, says his boy Jayson Jr., or “Deuce,” can expect all the holiday trimmings. “Being able to provide for your kids in a way that maybe your parents couldn’t do for you is a great feeling.”

0:45 We now possess a few Macy’s bags full of Christmas decor, plus an electric cookware gizmo as a gift for Celtics big man Aron Baynes because, Tatum says, “he’s a cook and obviously he likes to eat a lot.”

0:40 Intending to shop for Deuce, we pop into the Learning Express toy store and end up dancing on the keys of a jumbo piano like Tom Hanks in Big. Then shooting drills! The talented scorer launches a bouncy ball at a small shopping basket, a high-degree of-difficulty shot from like 10 feet. Splash.

Denne historien er fra December 2018/January 2019-utgaven av ESPN The Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2018/January 2019-utgaven av ESPN The Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ESPN THE MAGAZINESe alt
The Rape Allegation Against Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Fame's Protective Shield
ESPN The Magazine

The Rape Allegation Against Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Fame's Protective Shield

To be the world’s most famous athlete means Cristiano Ronaldo can appear on screens everywhere yet somehow elude the fallout from a rape allegation.

time-read
8 mins  |
April 2019
Michelle Waterson Reps More Than Herself In The Cage
ESPN The Magazine

Michelle Waterson Reps More Than Herself In The Cage

MMA is a violent and unforgiving sport. But instead of shielding her young daughter from her career, Michelle Waterson is bringing her along every step of the way.

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 2019
Kyler Murray Owns His Future In A Way No Other Rookie Has
ESPN The Magazine

Kyler Murray Owns His Future In A Way No Other Rookie Has

As Kyler Murray decides which sport will win his talents, at least one thing is clear: He owns his future in a way no other rookie has.

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2019
Kyle Kuzma Turned A Sneaker Obsession Into A Legit Business Opportunity
ESPN The Magazine

Kyle Kuzma Turned A Sneaker Obsession Into A Legit Business Opportunity

No eight-figure shoe deal? No problem. The Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma walked his own path to sneaker supremacy.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2019
Bryce Harper Is One Very Big Deal
ESPN The Magazine

Bryce Harper Is One Very Big Deal

He’s baseball’s best-known face and now its richest player. In this exclusive interview, the All-Star talks rejecting $300 million, recruiting Mike Trout and becoming a Phillie for life.

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 2019
Kyler Murray - Will Past Be Prologue For The Possible Top NFL Draft Pick?
ESPN The Magazine

Kyler Murray - Will Past Be Prologue For The Possible Top NFL Draft Pick?

Sizable expectations? Kyler Murray’s got a few: go No. 1 in the draft, become a franchise player and—oh yeah— completely blow up decades of doctrine about short quarterbacks.

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 2019
Eternal Champions
ESPN The Magazine

Eternal Champions

Seven months ago, Brazilian underdogs Chapecoense boarded a plane to play in the game of their lives. Instead, their biggest moment turned into a tragedy no one can forget.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 26, 2017
What's In A Name?
ESPN The Magazine

What's In A Name?

With the founder of Bikram yoga facing assault allegations, it seems simple: Studios should distance themselves from his name. But it’s not so easy.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 04, 2018
One Formula For Change
ESPN The Magazine

One Formula For Change

To inject excitement back into its races, Formula One needs more than a tweak or new twist—it needs to correct its course.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 04, 2018
All About The Goals
ESPN The Magazine

All About The Goals

U.S. national team hero and Chicago Red Stars defensive midfielder Julie Ertz shares her secrets for keeping her world-champion mindset.

time-read
1 min  |
June 04, 2018