Jayson Tatum’s Parents, Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole-Barnes have been supportive of him from high school and college basketball, all the way to the NBA.
Tatum attributes his success as an athlete to the tough love he received from his parents, Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole-Barnes.
Born on March 3, 1998, in St. Louis, Jayson’s parents, Justin and Brandy, welcomed him while they were both in college.
Although they never lived together and eventually separated, Jayson spent time at both of his parents’ schools during his upbringing.
He accompanied his mother to classes at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and he would join his father in the locker room while he played basketball at Saint Louis University.
Jayson considers himself a “mama’s boy” and considers Brandy his best friend.
However, his relationship with his father was more complex.
While primarily raised by his mother, Jayson’s father returned to the U.S. from Europe after playing basketball professionally in the Netherlands when Jayson was eight years old.
Despite receiving tough criticism and coaching techniques from his father, Jayson acknowledges that his dad played a crucial role in pushing him to excel in his career.
Justin recognized Jayson’s potential before he did and pushed him hard in basketball, which ultimately toughened Jayson both on and off the court.
According to Jayson, having his father’s tough approach significantly contributed to his growth.
Justin was a basketball star
Jayson Tatum’s father, Justin Tatum, had a notable basketball career that influenced Jayson’s own path in the NBA.
Justin played basketball at Christian Brothers College high school, where he played alongside Larry Hughes, who would later become Jayson’s godfather and an NBA star.
Continuing his basketball journey, Justin played at Saint Louis University during his college years, balancing his athletic pursuits with the responsibilities of fatherhood.
After completing college, Justin pursued a professional basketball career in the Netherlands, lasting three years.
During this time, Brandy, Jayson’s mother, would accompany their son on visits to Justin.
However, the distance and extended periods away from Jayson made it challenging for Justin.
Despite the difficulties, he found opportunities to contribute to the sport by coaching youth teams while overseas.
This coaching experience became valuable as Justin transitioned from being a player to a coach upon returning to the United States.
Justin became the assistant basketball coach at his former school, Christian Brothers College, for the 2006-2007 season.
He later accepted a coaching position at Soldan International Studies High School.
Eventually, he returned to his alma mater as the head coach, where he has remained for more than 10 consecutive seasons, as mentioned on his website.
Additionally, Justin has been organizing youth camps for over a decade, providing young aspiring basketball players with the chance to learn the sport and form new friendships.
Jason Tatum Mom Brandy is an attorney
Brandy, Jayson Tatum’s mother, has achieved multiple degrees, including a law degree that she completed in 2010.
During her time in law school, Jayson would frequently accompany her and browse through her textbooks while she studied.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, Brandy shared a particular memory when Jayson expressed his disinterest in reading “these kind of books” and expressed his desire to focus on playing basketball instead.
In response, Brandy would encourage him, emphasizing the importance of hard work by telling him, “Well, you better work really hard.”
Justin at the 2023 All-Stars Game
Jayson Tatum was chosen as one of the NBA stars to participate in the 2023 All-Star Game, representing the winning team led by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
During the game, he made a remarkable achievement by scoring an impressive 55 points, leading to his recognition as the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), as confirmed by the NBA.
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Witnessing this significant moment, Jayson’s father, Justin, expressed his joy and pride on Instagram following the game.
Alongside a photo of himself and Jayson holding the MVP award, he wrote, “It’s truly priceless to see your child fulfill their dreams.
My boy @jaytatum0 is the All-Star MVP with 55 points.”
Justin has two other children
Justin has two other children besides Jayson: a son, Jaycob, and a girl, Kayden.
Jaycob attended Christian Brothers College, his father’s alma mater, and played football there.
They won two state championships during his stint on the team.
According to his father’s website, he now plays football at Western Illinois University.
Despite receiving tough criticism, Jayson Tatum Parents played a big role in his career development.
