After the Celtics’ championship-clinching victory on Monday night, Jayson Tatum took a moment to compose himself. He was overcome with joy as he prepared to win the NBA championship for the first time in his career, and there was only one person he wanted to see: his young son, Deuce.

 

Tatum was quickly reunited with his six-year-old as confetti began to fall from the TD Garden rafters, where a 2024 Boston Celtics NBA Champions banner would soon be hanging. Deuce hugged his father, and Tatum hunched over.

 

Tatum celebrated by raising Deuce into the air and hugging him tightly, shouting, “We did it!”.

Tatum and his son are inseparable, and Deuce remained on the floor with him for the rest of the celebration. When Tatum arrived at the platform, he was questioned about his emotional interaction with his child.

“He told me that I was the best in the world. I said, ‘You’re damn right I am,’” said Tatum.

Tatum, who was picked third overall by the Celtics in 2017, has spent the last seven years working towards this championship. He’s emerged as a top player, earning All-NBA First Team honours in each of the last three seasons, but a championship eluded him until Monday night.

Jayson Tatum lifts the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy alongside his son, Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr., following Boston’s 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.Elsa | Getty ImagesAtum and the Celtics have always come close, including a Finals appearance two years ago, when they were upset by the Golden State Warriors. Tatum and his Celtics teammates have talked using that setback, as well as last season’s loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, as incentive to win. It eventually paid off on Monday night.”The sacrifice was worthwhile.” I am grateful to have been in the positions I was while growing up. Thankful for my mama. Thank you, Dad, for introducing me to basketball. My grandmother, who helped to raise me. “All my friends and family who have supported me, every coach, and every teammate that I’ve had,” said an overjoyed Tatum on Monday.

“There’s a lot of people that have had a hand in the success of Jayson Tatum. So I guess in this moment, I’m just very thankful for everybody that supported me in the highest of moments and in the lowest of moments. I’m very, very appreciative of that,” he added.

“It’s a hell of a feeling,” Tatum said of being an NBA champ. “I dreamed about what it would be like, but this is 10 times better.”

Best of all, he got to share the special moment with his son.