Jayson Tatum has spent years watching his son grow up alongside his NBA career, but the Boston Celtics star is now imagining a future that pushes that bond into unprecedented territory.
The idea of playing with his son Deuce, a scenario that only LeBron James and Bronny James have made reality, is no longer just a fantasy for Tatum. It’s something he is openly manifesting as a long-term goal.
Speaking on the Morris Code podcast, Tatum said the possibility became clearer when he realized how quickly time is moving.
“He turned eight on Saturday,” Tatum said. “I’m 27, so it’s like damn – can I play 10 more years? I can easily do that. If it works out, it would be cool.”
The comments landed as more than a casual reflection. They echoed the same timeline that allowed LeBron, who also became a father at 19, to share the court with Bronny 20 years later. For Tatum, who welcomed Deuce just six months after being drafted, the math suddenly feels possible, if his body holds up.
The Recovery That Strengthened Tatum’s Resolve
Tatum‘s long-view optimism comes after a year that tested him physically and emotionally. His 2024-25 season ended in devastating fashion with an Achilles tear during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, an injury that forced him to confront doubts he had never experienced.
In an interview with People, Tatum said a quiet moment with Deuce during rehab helped restore belief.
“There have been plenty of moments during this when I doubted myself,” he admitted. “My son thinks I can do anything.”
The moment struck him deeply, not just as a father, but as an athlete fighting to extend his career as long as he can. That belief, he said, became a significant part of his motivation.
Deuce has been a constant part of Tatum‘s basketball life from the start. He appears in locker rooms, interrupts postgame interviews, and interacts with Celtics players like a miniature teammate. Tatum embraces it, calling his son “the real superstar in Boston,” and even writes his nickname inside every pair of his game sneakers.
Now eight years old, Deuce is showing real interest in the sport himself. He plays organized basketball, practices ball-handling drills, and even earned praise from Celtics players for his passing.
Tatum, who designed his signature Jordan Brand shoe to include kids’ sizes so fans like Deuce could wear them, says sharing this journey has been the best part of becoming a father young.
Tatum is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season with the Achilles injury, though he hasn’t ruled out a late-year surprise return. Long-term, he believes another decade in the league is realistic, and more importantly, purposeful.
Whether he can write the NBA‘s next father-son chapter remains to be seen. But for Tatum, the goal is now spoken into existence. And as he navigates the hardest recovery of his career, that dream might be the fuel that carries him through the next decade.
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