Jayson Tatum's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Jayson Tatum. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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 University. Tatum was drafted third overall by the Celtics in 2017 and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018. In 2022, he was named the inaugural NBA Eastern Conference finals MVP. Tatum solidified his career by winning his first NBA title in the 2024 NBA Finals.

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

1980: Larry Bird's Playoff Performance

In the 1980 NBA playoffs, Larry Bird, playing for the Boston Celtics, achieved a noteworthy performance against the Philadelphia 76ers, marking a significant moment in his career.

1986: Bird and McHale's Record

In the 1986-87 NBA season, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale recorded four games with each scoring at least 30 points, setting a record for the Celtics.

November 1989: Bird's Milestone

In November 1989, Larry Bird achieved a milestone by scoring 50+ points and grabbing 10+ rebounds, marking a significant achievement in his career.

1999: Kobe Bryant's Playoff Achievement

During the 1999 NBA playoffs, Kobe Bryant achieved a record by scoring at least 20 points in four straight playoff games at a young age.

2002: Pierce's Performance

In 2002, Paul Pierce had a game with 30+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ assists, a feat that Tatum replicated in 2023.

2007: Celtics' Top Seed

The Celtics secured the NBA's top seed and home-court advantage throughout the postseason for the first time since the 2007-08 season, showcasing their dominance in the league.

2013: Metro Catholic Conference Co-Player of the Year

In 2013, as a freshman, 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.

2015: FIBA Under-19 World Championship

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

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

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

2016: Missouri Class 5A State Championship

In 2015–16 as a senior, Tatum led Chaminade to its second Missouri Class 5A state championship.

December 2017: Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month

In December 2017, Jayson Tatum was named the Eastern Conference's Rookie of the Month.

May 22, 2018: NBA All-Rookie Team Selection

On May 22, 2018, Jayson Tatum was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team (First Team).

2018: NBA All-Rookie First Team

In the 2018 season, Jayson Tatum was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

December 22, 2019: Career-High Points

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

January 11, 2020: Career-High 41 Points

On January 11, 2020, Jayson Tatum exceeded his previous high with a then career-high 41 points against the New Orleans Pelicans.

2020: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2020, Jayson Tatum won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.

2020: Tatum and LaVine's 50-Point Games

In the 2020 season, Jayson Tatum and Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls became the second pair of players to score 50+ points on the same day, highlighting their exceptional performances.

2021: Olympic Gold Medal Win

In 2021, Jayson Tatum helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, averaging 15.2 points per game.

2021: 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. He set a record for most points in a play-in tournament game and was perfect from the free-throw line.

January 23, 2022: 51-Point Game Against Wizards

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

November 30, 2022: 49 points and NBA Record

On November 30, 2022, Tatum scored 49 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 134–121 victory against the Miami Heat. At 24 years old, he became the youngest player in NBA history to make 900 three-pointers, surpassing Bradley Beal's record. He also achieved multiple 45-point, 10-rebound, and 8-three-pointer games, joining a select group of NBA players.

2022: NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP

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

2022: 2022 NBA Finals Rematch

On January 19, 2023, in a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, Tatum recorded 34 points, a career-high 19 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in the 121–118 overtime victory. He became the first Celtic since Paul Pierce in 2002 to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists in a game. Tatum became the tenth player in NBA history to reach 9,000 career points before the age of 25.

January 5, 2023: Second Career Triple-Double

On January 5, 2023, Jayson Tatum recorded 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: Youngest Celtic to 10,000 Points

On November 4, 2023, Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and had 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 Signature Jordan Silhouette

In 2023, Jayson Tatum received his own signature silhouette from the Jordan Brand, named the Jordan Tatum 1.

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January 25, 2024: All-Star Starter

On January 25, 2024, Jayson Tatum was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, marking his fifth consecutive All-Star selection and his second consecutive selection as a starter.

February 13, 2024: 41 Points Against the Nets

On February 13, 2024, Tatum scored 41 points, with 31 in the first half, tied his career-high for first-half points - along with 14 rebounds and five assists in a 118–110 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. He also joined Larry Bird as the only players in Celtics franchise history to record at least 25 40-point games.

July 1, 2024: Richest NBA Contract

On July 1, 2024, Jayson Tatum signed a five-year contract extension worth up to $314 million, making it the richest deal in NBA history, surpassing his teammate Jaylen Brown's extension.

July 2024: 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 Raptors

On November 16, 2024, Jayson Tatum recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, and hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure a 126–123 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors.

2024: First Playoff Triple-Double and NBA Finals Appearance

In 2024, Jayson Tatum achieved his first career playoff triple-double in Game 1 against the Miami Heat, contributing 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He led the Celtics to the NBA Finals and became the sixth player in NBA history to lead their team in points, rebounds, and assists while reaching the NBA Finals.

2024: Second Olympic Gold Medal Win

In 2024, Jayson Tatum was selected to the Olympic team. Team USA would go on to win the gold medal in a rematch against France, he had little impact on the games, averaging 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

2024: NBA Finals and Olympic Gold

In 2024, Tatum led the Celtics to a league-best 64 wins and a championship in the NBA Finals. He also won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.

2024: NBA Finals Win

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

2024: NBA Finals Performance and Championship

In the 2024 NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics to victory, with notable performances including Game 3 where he scored 31 points. He and Jaylen Brown became the first Celtics duo to each post at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in an NBA Finals game. Tatum led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists during the NBA Finals and became the sixth player to lead his team in all three categories during a championship run.

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, marking his sixth consecutive selection and his third consecutive selection as a starter.