Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr., known as Deuce Tatum, was born on December 6, 2017, in the United States.
He is the son of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and has become one of the most recognized children in the NBA world.
Who is Deuce Tatum?
Deuce Tatum is the young son of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. His full name is Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr., but fans and family call him Deuce — a nickname referencing his status as Jayson Tatum the second.
He first caught the public eye during the 2021-22 NBA season. Courtside appearances, postgame interviews, and viral locker room moments quickly turned him into an unofficial team mascot.
Deuce has become one of the most recognizable children in professional basketball.
His father has often described their bond as a unique journey. Jayson Tatum was just 19 years old when Deuce was born, a few weeks into his NBA rookie season.
“I think being able to go through this journey together … it’s kind of like we’re growing up together,” Jayson told media in 2022.
Early Life of Deuce Tatum
Deuce Tatum grew up in the United States, surrounded by his father’s professional basketball career from birth.
His parents, Jayson Tatum and Toriah Lachell, were high school sweethearts who attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri together.
Jayson Tatum revealed that he found out Toriah was pregnant in early 2017, just as his freshman season at Duke University was ending and his NBA career was beginning.
Both parents were 19 years old when Deuce arrived in December of that year. Toriah Lachell has since moved to Boston so Deuce can grow up closer to his father.
Both parents have maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship. Deuce spends significant time with his father and regularly attends Boston Celtics games at TD Garden.
Deuce Tatum Age
Deuce Tatum is 8 years old as of June 16, 2026, born on December 6, 2017. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
In March 2026, Deuce had a letter published in SLAM Magazine — a significant public milestone for an eight-year-old.
His father has spoken about hoping to play in the NBA long enough for Deuce to eventually join him on the court professionally.
Deuce Tatum Ethnicity and Nationality
Deuce Tatum holds American nationality, born and raised in the United States. His ethnic background is mixed, reflecting his father’s African American heritage and his mother Toriah Lachell’s background.
The family practices Christianity, as confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the Tatum family.
Deuce Tatum Height and Weight
Deuce Tatum stands at approximately 3 feet 3 inches (about 101 cm) tall, based on earlier reports — though he has certainly grown since those measurements were recorded. His weight has not been publicly confirmed in recent sources.
For an eight-year-old boy, Deuce appears athletic and active. His father has noted that Deuce recently joined an organized basketball team and is “really starting to fall in love with the game.”
Deuce Tatum Education
Deuce Tatum is of elementary school age as of 2026. Multiple sources have reported that he was at one point being homeschooled, though his current schooling arrangement is not publicly confirmed.
His father, Jayson Tatum, attended Chaminade College Preparatory School before playing one year at Duke University. The family environment places a clear emphasis on both education and athletics.
Given his age and public profile, Deuce’s academic life remains appropriately private.
Deuce Tatum Career
Deuce Tatum is eight years old and has no professional career. However, he has become a genuine public figure through his courtside presence and media appearances.
Growing Up Courtside
Deuce has been a courtside fixture at Boston Celtics home games for several seasons. The Celtics have featured him on their official social media pages multiple times, including a 2022 clip of him walking through the team locker room while slapping players’ hands.
In February 2022, Deuce presented his father with his NBA All-Star ring before a home game against the Detroit Pistons.
That moment became one of the most widely shared images of the 2021-22 NBA season.
Connection With Celtics Players
Deuce built real relationships with his father’s teammates. Marcus Smart told The Boston Globe in 2022: “Deuce is always trying to attack me any time I come around him. That’s just who he is. We all love Deuce.”
In May 2022, after the Celtics beat Milwaukee in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Deuce whispered something to his father during a live press conference — a moment that resonated widely with fans.
That same month, a Celtics social media post showed him walking the locker room giving high-fives.
The SLAM Magazine Letter
In March 2026, Deuce achieved a milestone that no child his age had managed before in modern NBA media. SLAM Magazine published a letter written by Deuce as part of their cover story on Jayson Tatum’s return from a ruptured Achilles tendon injury.
In the letter, the eight-year-old described watching his father go through surgery and physical therapy. “After seeing Daddy go through surgery and physical therapy, on a scale from 1 to 100 for how tough he is, I would say he’s a 79,” Deuce wrote.
The letter was also notable for revealing that Deuce and his younger brother Dylan helped cheer up their father during the recovery period.
2024 NBA Championship Celebration
Deuce was present at TD Garden on June 17, 2024, when the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 to win the NBA championship.
He ran onto the court to embrace his father, who lifted him in the air to share the victory. The moment became one of the defining images of the Celtics’ title celebration.
His father called him his “best friend in the world” in a social media post on Deuce’s fifth birthday in December 2022. That phrase has since become synonymous with how Jayson Tatum talks about his eldest son publicly.
Deuce Tatum Family
Deuce’s father is Jayson Tatum, one of the NBA’s top forwards and a six-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics. His mother is Toriah Lachell, a hairstylist and entrepreneur who founded The Curl Bar Boston, a natural hair salon.
His paternal grandparents are Justin Tatum and Brandy Cole. Justin Tatum is a former college basketball player, gym teacher, and basketball coach. Brandy Cole is a practicing attorney.
Deuce also has a younger half-brother named Dylan, born in 2024. Dylan is Jayson Tatum’s son with British singer Ella Mai.
After Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, Deuce wrote in his SLAM letter that he and Dylan would cuddle with their father to help lift his spirits.
Jayson Tatum has spoken about the two boys keeping his spirits up throughout his recovery process.
Deuce Tatum Net Worth
Deuce Tatum is eight years old and has no independent income or established net worth of his own. His financial well-being is supported entirely by his family.
His father, Jayson Tatum, has an estimated net worth of around $80 million, built through his NBA contracts and endorsement deals with brands including Nike’s Jordan Brand.
Deuce’s mother, Toriah Lachell, has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million as of 2026, which she built through her salon business and entrepreneurial work rather than through any connection to celebrity life.
Deuce Tatum Social Media
Deuce Tatum does not operate any personal social media accounts. He is a minor, and his family appropriately keeps his online presence managed by his parents.
His father, Jayson Tatum, regularly shares photos and videos of Deuce on his verified Instagram account. The Boston Celtics’ official social media pages have also featured Deuce frequently over the years.
Given Deuce’s age, his social media footprint is entirely managed by the adults around him. Fans can follow Jayson Tatum’s official accounts for occasional glimpses of their father-son relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deuce Tatum’s net worth?
Deuce Tatum has no independent net worth at age eight. His father Jayson Tatum’s estimated net worth is around $80 million.
How old is Deuce Tatum?
Deuce Tatum is 8 years old as of June 16, 2026, born on December 6, 2017.
What team does Deuce Tatum play for?
Deuce Tatum is eight years old and does not play professionally. However, his father confirmed in 2025 that Deuce joined an organized youth basketball team and is growing to love the sport.
What is Deuce Tatum’s height?
Deuce Tatum’s height has been reported at approximately 3 feet 3 inches (about 101 cm), though he continues to grow and no recent official measurement is available.
Who are Deuce Tatum’s parents?
Deuce’s parents are Jayson Tatum, NBA star for the Boston Celtics, and Toriah Lachell, a hairstylist and entrepreneur based in Boston.
What is Deuce Tatum known for?
Deuce is best known as the courtside companion of his father Jayson Tatum, and for having a letter published in SLAM Magazine in March 2026 about his father’s Achilles recovery.
The Bottom Line
Deuce Tatum was present on the TD Garden court on June 17, 2024, when his father lifted him into the air after the Boston Celtics won their 18th NBA championship against the Dallas Mavericks.
His parents raised him across two households in Boston, both committed to his upbringing. In March 2026, at just eight years old, he had a personal letter published in SLAM Magazine — a remarkable first for a child his age in NBA media.
His younger brother Dylan, Jayson Tatum’s son with Ella Mai, is growing up alongside him.
Deuce told SLAM that he and Dylan worked together to cheer their father up during his Achilles recovery, and he scored their dad’s toughness at “a 79 out of 100.”
We hope you enjoyed reading about Deuce Tatum. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!