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 an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. A McDonald's All-American in high school, he played college basketball for Duke before being drafted third overall by the Celtics in 2017. He earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2018. Tatum was named the inaugural NBA Eastern Conference finals MVP in 2022. He won his first NBA title in the 2024 NBA Finals with the Celtics.

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

1980: First Celtics Rookie to score 25+ in Playoff game since Larry Bird

In 1980, Larry Bird was the last Celtics rookie to score 25 or more points in a playoff game. Jayson Tatum equaled this record.

1986: Bird and McHale's Record

In 1986, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale recorded four games where they each scored at least 30 points, a record that Jayson Tatum later tied with Jaylen Brown.

November 1989: Larry Bird's Record

In November 1989, Larry Bird scored 50+ points and grabbed 10+ rebounds, a feat that Jayson Tatum later replicated in Celtics history.

1999: Youngest Player with 20+ Points in Playoff Games

In 1999, Kobe Bryant was the youngest player to score at least 20 points in four straight playoff games until Tatum surpassed this record.

2002: Paul Pierce's Record

In 2002, Paul Pierce was the last Celtic to record 30+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a game before Jayson Tatum replicated this feat in 2023.

2013: Metro Catholic Conference 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.

2015: Played in FIBA Under-19 World Championship

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

2015: Junior Season Performance

In 2015, as a junior, Tatum averaged 25.9 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, earning Second-team Naismith Trophy All-American honors.

2016: Missouri Class 5A State Championship

In 2015-2016, as a senior, Tatum averaged 29.6 points and 9.1 rebounds, leading 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: Named to NBA All-Rookie Team

On May 22, 2018, Jayson Tatum was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team (First Team), recognizing his outstanding performance in his rookie season.

2018: NBA All-Rookie First Team Selection

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

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

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

2020: 50+ point games

In 2020, Jayson Tatum and Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls became the second pair of players in the 2020–21 season to score 50+ points on the same day.

January 3, 2021: Career-High Assists and Game-Winning Shot

On January 3, 2021, Jayson Tatum recorded 24 points and a career-high 12 assists, while also making another game-winning shot in a victory over the Detroit Pistons.

2021: Won Gold Medal at Tokyo Olympics

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

In 2021, during the play-in tournament, Jayson Tatum scored 50 points, leading the Celtics to victory over the Washington Wizards and securing the #7-seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2021 NBA playoffs. He also set a record for most points in a single play-in tournament game.

January 23, 2022: Season-High 51 Points

On January 23, 2022, Jayson Tatum scored a then season-high 51 points, along with 10 rebounds and seven assists, and a career-high nine three-pointers in a victory over the Washington Wizards.

November 30, 2022: 49 Points and Youngest to 900 Three-Pointers

On November 30, 2022, Jayson Tatum recorded 49 points and 11 rebounds, making eight three-pointers in a victory over the Miami Heat. He became the youngest player in NBA history to make 900 three-pointers.

November 4, 2023: Youngest Celtic to 10,000 Points

On November 4, 2023, Jayson Tatum became the youngest Celtic to reach 10,000 career points at 25 years and 246 days of age, recording 32 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

2023: Received Signature Shoe, Jordan Tatum 1

In 2023, Jayson Tatum received his own signature silhouette, 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 selection and his second consecutive selection as a starter.

February 13, 2024: 41 Points Against Nets

On February 13, 2024, Jayson Tatum scored 41 points, with 31 in the first half, along with 14 rebounds in a victory over the Brooklyn Nets. He also joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics with 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 Jaylen Brown's $304 million extension.

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 Raptors

On November 16, 2024, Jayson Tatum recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, including a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer in an overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors.

2024: Tatum and Tkachuk Win Championships

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

2024: First Playoff Triple-Double and NBA Finals Appearance

In 2024, Jayson Tatum had his first career playoff triple-double. The Celtics won the series in four games and advanced to the 2024 NBA Finals.

2024: NBA Championship and Olympic Gold Medal

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

2024: Named to Olympic Team

In 2024, Jayson Tatum was named to the Olympic team. Team USA would go on to win the gold medal in a rematch against France.

2024: NBA Championship

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

2024: NBA Finals Victory

In the 2024 NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics to victory, recording notable performances in multiple games and setting records with Jaylen Brown. Tatum also led the Celtics in all three categories during the NBA Finals.

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 selection in a row as a starter.