Jayson Tatum credits his parents Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole-Barnes’ “tough love” for his current level of athletic success. On March 3, 1998, Justin and Brandy welcomed Jayson into their St. Louis apartment while they were both attending college. Even though Justin and Brandy never lived together and eventually got divorced, the Boston Celtics star went to the schools attended by his parents when he was a child.

Despite having to put up with his father’s harsh criticism and instructional methods, Jayson believes that his father helped him advance in his job.

“Having him be that hard on me in basketball really, you know, made me tougher on and off the court,” Jayson said to KSDK. “He saw the potential in me before I saw it in myself.”

This is everything you need to know about Jayson Tatum’s parents, Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole-Barnes.

“It was really difficult, but it was what I felt like I had to do for both of us,” she said to the source.

Brandy carried on the tradition she began when she was an undergraduate by bringing Jayson to class during her time in business and law school. In an April 2016 column, Jayson reflected on his memories of going to school with his mother for The Players’ Tribune. The author noted, “I remember getting lost in books or video games or nibbling snacks while sitting at the back of her classes.”

At the time, Justin was a student and a basketball player at Saint Louis University. During the pre-game conversations in the locker room and on the field, Jayson would get to spend time with his father. But when he was younger, his mother reared him most of the time.