Jayson Tatum is giving fans a rare glimpse into life at home with his two sons.
During a recent appearance on The Today Show, the Boston Celtics star spoke about fatherhood while promoting his new children’s book, Baby Dunks a Lot: The Day the Basketball Stopped Bouncing. While many fans are familiar with his oldest son, Deuce, Tatum also shared a few sweet details about his younger son, Dylan.
The NBA champion said one of the biggest reasons he wanted to write a sequel was the response to his first book.
“I’ll meet parents or grandparents who stop me, and I think they’re going to tell me how much they appreciate me playing basketball,” he said. “Instead, they’ll tell me how much their grandchild or their son or daughter loves reading the book every single night.”
The book has taken on even more meaning since becoming a father of two.
“The coolest part is the first book I was reading it to Deuce, and now Deuce is reading this book to his younger brother, Dylan,” Tatum shared. “Seeing that relationship evolve is really special.”
Tatum also revealed that 8-year-old Deuce had a hand in the creative process.
“He gives me tips,” the proud dad said. “I’ll ask, ‘Deuce, what do you think about this?’ He gives his feedback. He’s a tough critic, but I value his opinion a lot.”
As for 2-year-old Dylan, Tatum joked that his youngest simply follows his older brother’s lead.
“He just follows his big brother, whatever he does,” he said. “He loves the idea of his brother reading the book to him. That’s just really cool to see.”
The conversation also turned to basketball, and Tatum admitted both boys are already showing interest in the sport.
“Deuce is showing some promise,” he said. “He loves being around the game, and Dylan just does whatever Deuce does. I got my hands full. Possibly got two basketball players.”
When asked about his favorite part of being a father, Tatum reflected on watching his sons grow into their own personalities.
“My favorite part about being a dad would be seeing their personalities develop,” he said. “Seeing their character grow up and develop, it really makes you a better person. It makes you want to be the best role model and the best father figure knowing that there are two little boys watching everything you do.”
Tatum shares Deuce with his former girlfriend, Toriah Lachell. He welcomed Dylan with singer Ella Mai in 2024.
