Jayson Tatum is one of the most talented and promising young stars in the NBA. He plays as a forward for the Boston Celtics and has been named an All-Star four times. He is also the NBA All-Star game MVP of 2023. But who are Jayson Tatum parents and how did they influence his basketball journey? Let’s find out.
Justin Tatum: The Father and Coach
Justin Tatum is Jayson Tatum’s father and a former basketball player himself. He played college basketball at Saint Louis University and then professionally in the Netherlands. He later returned to the U.S. and became a basketball coach and a gym trainer at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, the same school he attended as a student.
Justin Tatum met Jayson Tatum’s mother, Brandy Cole, when they were both studying at Saint Louis University. They were 19 years old when Jayson was born on March 3, 1998. Although they never lived together and eventually split up, they remained supportive parents to their son.
Justin Tatum had a huge role in Jayson’s basketball development. He was his first coach and mentor, teaching him the fundamentals of the game and pushing him to work hard and improve his skills. He was also very tough on Jayson, often criticizing him and challenging him to do better.
Jayson Tatum admitted that his father’s tough love was not easy to handle at times, but he also credited him for making him a better player and a stronger person. He said in an interview with KSDK, “He saw the potential in me before I saw it in myself, so having him be that tough on me in basketball really you know, made me tougher on and off the court.”
Brandy Cole-Barnes: The Mother and Lawyer
Brandy Cole-Barnes is Jayson Tatum’s mother and a lawyer by profession. She works in the St. Louis region and specializes in family law, criminal defense, and personal injury cases.
Brandy Cole-Barnes was a high school volleyball star who earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee. However, she gave up her scholarship and stayed in St. Louis after finding out she was pregnant with Jayson. She enrolled at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and earned a degree in political science and communications while working part-time jobs to support herself and her son.
Brandy Cole-Barnes did not stop there. She continued her education and pursued a law degree at Saint Louis University School of Law. She graduated in 2011 and passed the bar exam in 2012. She also brought Jayson with her to classes throughout her academic journey, exposing him to different fields of knowledge and inspiring him to value education.
Jayson Tatum has a very close bond with his mother, whom he calls his “best friend” and his “biggest fan”. He said in an essay for The Players’ Tribune, “I’m the biggest mama’s boy ever, and I’m proud to say it.” He also dedicated his first NBA All-Star appearance in 2020 to her, saying, “This is for my mom. She’s been through so much with me since day one.”
Conclusion
Jayson Tatum parents are Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole-Barnes, two remarkable individuals who have shaped his basketball career and his life in different ways. They have been supportive, encouraging, and loving parents to their son, despite their own challenges and struggles. They have also instilled in him the values of hard work, perseverance, excellence, and humility.
Jayson Tatum is grateful for his parents and their influence on him. He said in an interview with People, “They’re everything to me. They’re my role models.” He also expressed his appreciation for them on social media, posting photos and messages of love and gratitude.
Jayson Tatum parents are not only proud of their son’s achievements on the court, but also of his character off the court. They have witnessed him grow from a boy to a man, from a student to a star, from a son to a father. Jayson Tatum has a son named Deuce from his previous relationship with Toriah Lachell. He is currently dating an English singer and songwriter named Ella Mai Howell.
Jayson Tatum parents are an example of how parents can make a positive impact on their children’s lives, even if they are not together or have different careers. They have shown that with love, support, guidance, and sacrifice, anything is possible for their children.
ncG1vNJzZmikmZh6rrHRnJ%2BapqRjsLC5jpuss7Jfn666v86nZK2ZpKq6brzAq5ynrKNitbDDjK2fnrFdqLWivMSdZKGho2Kvor%2FKnqubmZyheqSt0Z6cq2c%3D