Career Timeline of Jayson Tatum: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Jayson Tatum, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Jayson Tatum is a professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics. A McDonald's All-American in high school, he played college basketball at Duke before being drafted third overall by the Celtics in the 2017 NBA draft. Tatum was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018. In 2022, he earned the inaugural NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP award and won his first NBA Championship in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1980: Larry Bird

In 1980, Larry Bird also scored 25 or more points in a playoff game against the 76ers.

1999: Kobe Bryant youngest player

In 1999, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player ever to score at least 20 points in four straight playoff games at the age of 20 years, 272 days.

2010: Celtics Last NBA Finals Appearance

In 2010, the Boston Celtics made their last appearance in the NBA Finals before Jayson Tatum led them to the finals in 2022.

2013: Named MCC Co-Player of the Year

In 2013, as a freshman, Jayson Tatum averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and was named 2013 Metro Catholic Conference (MCC) Co-Player of the Year, leading the Red Devils to both MCC and Missouri District 2 crowns.

2014: Played in the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship

In 2014, Jayson Tatum played in the FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

2014: Averaged 26.0 Points and 11.0 Rebounds as a Sophomore

In 2014, during his sophomore year, Jayson Tatum averaged 26.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.

2015: Averaged 29.6 Points and 9.1 Rebounds as a Senior

As a senior in 2015–16, Tatum averaged 29.6 points and 9.1 rebounds.

2015: Played in the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship

In 2015, Jayson Tatum played in the FIBA Under-19 World Championship and was named to the Eurobasket.com All-World Championship U19 Second Team.

2015: Joined St. Louis Eagles AAU Team

In the summer of 2015, Jayson Tatum joined the St. Louis Eagles Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team on the highly competitive Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Circuit.

March 30, 2016: Selected to McDonald's All-American Game

On March 30, 2016, Jayson Tatum was selected to the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game, leading the East Team in scoring with 18 points.

December 3, 2016: Duke Debut

On December 3, 2016, Jayson Tatum recorded 10 points in his Duke debut, a 94–55 victory over Maine.

2016: Led Chaminade to State Championship

In 2015-2016 as a senior, Jayson Tatum led Chaminade to its second Missouri Class 5A state championship.

2016: Jaylen Brown drafted by Celtics

In 2016, Jaylen Brown was drafted by the Celtics. Tatum formed a duo with him.

2016: Represented Team USA at the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit

In 2016, Jayson Tatum represented Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit, where he recorded 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block in 16 minutes, 57 seconds of play.

2016: Duke Freshman Season

In 2016–17, his freshman season for Duke, Jayson Tatum played 29 games and averaged 16.8 points.

January 4, 2017: Scored 19 points against Georgia Tech

On January 4, 2017, Jayson Tatum scored 19 points in a 110–57 victory over Georgia Tech.

October 17, 2017: NBA Debut

On October 17, 2017, Jayson Tatum recorded a double-double in his NBA debut, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

2017: Spokesperson for Imo's Pizza

As of 2017, Jayson Tatum is a spokesperson for Imo's Pizza.

2017: Entered NBA Draft

At the end of his freshman season, Jayson Tatum opted to enter the 2017 NBA draft as a one-and-done, where he was projected as a first-round selection.

2017: Drafted by Boston Celtics

In 2017, Jayson Tatum was selected by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick in the NBA draft.

April 15, 2018: Playoff Debut

On April 15, 2018, in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, Jayson Tatum recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 113–107 overtime victory.

October 16, 2018: Season-Opening Victory

On October 16, 2018, Jayson Tatum recorded 23 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in the season-opening 105–87 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

February 5, 2019: Victory Over Cavaliers

On February 5, 2019, Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points and seven rebounds in a 103–96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

June 21, 2019: Signed with the Jordan Brand

On June 21, 2019, Jayson Tatum signed with the Jordan Brand.

December 22, 2019: Career-High 39 Points

On December 22, 2019, Jayson Tatum recorded a then career-high 39 points, along with 12 rebounds, in a 119–93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

January 11, 2020: Career-High 41 Points Against Pelicans

On January 11, 2020, Jayson Tatum scored a then career-high 41 points against the New Orleans Pelicans in a 140–105 victory.

November 22, 2020: Rookie Maximum Extension

On November 22, 2020, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics agreed to a rookie maximum extension of five years, worth $163 million.

December 23, 2020: Season-Opening Victory with Game-Winning Shot

On December 23, 2020, Jayson Tatum totaled 30 points and seven rebounds, alongside a game-winning three-pointer, during the narrow season-opening 122–121 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

2020: Named to the 2020 Olympic team

In 2020, Jayson Tatum was selected to the Olympic team; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games in Tokyo were postponed to 2021.

2020: Eastern Conference Finals Loss

In the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but were eliminated by the Miami Heat.

January 3, 2021: Career-High 12 Assists

On January 3, 2021, Jayson Tatum had 24 points and a career-high 12 assists and made another game-winning shot in a narrow 122–120 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

October 25, 2021: Tatum Leads Celtics to First Win of the Season

On October 25, 2021, Jayson Tatum scored 41 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out eight assists, leading the Boston Celtics to their first victory of the season with a 140–129 overtime win against the Charlotte Hornets.

2021: Won Gold Medal at the 2021 Olympics

In 2021, Jayson Tatum helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Olympics in Tokyo, averaging 15.2 points per game and being the second highest scorer on the team to Kevin Durant.

2021: Tatum Scores 50 Points in Play-In Tournament

On May 18, 2021, Jayson Tatum scored 50 points in the play-in tournament game against the Washington Wizards, leading the Celtics to a 118-100 victory and securing the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2021 NBA playoffs.

January 23, 2022: Tatum Scores Season-High 51 Points

On January 23, 2022, Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 51 points, along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and a career-high nine three-pointers, contributing to a dominant 116–87 victory over the Washington Wizards.

November 30, 2022: Tatum Becomes Youngest to Make 900 Three-Pointers

On November 30, 2022, Jayson Tatum scored 49 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, making eight three-pointers in a 134–121 victory against the Miami Heat. He became the youngest player in NBA history to make 900 three-pointers at 24 years old.

2022: Tatum Leads Celtics to NBA Finals

In 2022, Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals, marking a significant achievement in his career and for the team.

2022: Won Inaugural NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP

In 2022, Jayson Tatum won the inaugural NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP.

January 5, 2023: Tatum Records Second Career Triple-Double

On January 5, 2023, Jayson Tatum achieved his second career triple-double with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 124–95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

November 4, 2023: Tatum Reaches 10,000 Career Points

On November 4, 2023, Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and secured 11 rebounds in a 124–114 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, becoming the youngest Celtic to reach 10,000 career points at 25 years and 246 days old.

2023: Received his own signature silhouette, the Jordan Tatum 1

In 2023, Jayson Tatum received his own signature silhouette with the Jordan Brand, called the Jordan Tatum 1.

NIKE Jordan Tatum 1 Team Bank Basketball Shoes (FB2863-001, Black/Grey Fog/White) Size 9.5

Check it on Amazon

February 13, 2024: Tatum Scores 41 Points Against Nets

On February 13, 2024, Jayson Tatum scored 41 points, including 31 in the first half, along with 14 rebounds and five assists, in a 118–110 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

February 2024: Partnered with SoFi for Home Ownership Initiative

In February 2024, Jayson Tatum partnered with SoFi to help people buy homes in his hometown of St. Louis. SoFi donated $1 million to the Jayson Tatum Foundation for the initiative, and Tatum appeared on CBS News to discuss their efforts.

July 1, 2024: Tatum Signs Richest NBA Contract Extension

On July 1, 2024, Jayson Tatum signed a five-year contract extension with the Celtics potentially worth up to $314 million, becoming the richest deal in NBA history at the time.

July 2024: Named cover athlete for NBA 2K25

In July 2024, Jayson Tatum was named the cover athlete for the video game NBA 2K25.

November 16, 2024: Game-winning shot against the Toronto Raptors

On November 16, 2024, Jayson Tatum recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, capping it off with a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer in a 126–123 overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors.

2024: Won NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals in the same week as Matthew Tkachuk

In 2024, Jayson Tatum and his high school friend, Matthew Tkachuk, won their respective championship series (the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals) within a week of each other.

2024: Tatum Reaches NBA Finals, Leads Team in Key Stats

In 2024, Jayson Tatum led his team in points, rebounds, and assists while reaching the NBA Finals, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to achieve this feat.

2024: Led Celtics to League-Best Record and NBA Finals Championship

In 2024, Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a league-best 64 wins and a championship in the NBA Finals.

2024: Named to the 2024 Olympic team

In 2024, Jayson Tatum was named to the 2024 Olympic team, winning the gold medal in a rematch against France. He averaged 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

2024: Won First NBA Title

In 2024, Jayson Tatum won his first NBA title in the NBA Finals.

2024: Tatum Leads Celtics to NBA Championship

In the 2024 NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to victory, recording 31 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds in the decisive Game 5, marking a significant achievement in his career.

January 25, 2025: Named Eastern Conference All-Star starter

On January 25, 2025, Jayson Tatum was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. This marked his sixth consecutive selection and his third consecutive selection as a starter.

October 2025: Named Chief Basketball Officer for Duke Blue Devils

In October 2025, Jayson Tatum was named the Chief Basketball Officer for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team. He volunteers his time as a special advisor to Jon Scheyer and the Duke University program.

March 6, 2026: 2025-26 Season Debut After Achilles Rupture

On March 6, 2026, Jayson Tatum made his 2025–26 season debut against the Dallas Mavericks after recovering from an Achilles rupture. He recorded 15 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in the 120–100 win.