BOSTON — Celtics star Jayson Tatum helped create an unforgettable birthday experience for a young fan on Thursday night after leading his team to a 122-102 victory over the Wizards in Washington D.C. During the game, Tatum noticed a boy in the crowd holding a sign requesting his autograph. The boy was celebrating his birthday and asked Tatum to sign his No. 0 Celtics jersey.
Tatum decided to go above and beyond by inviting the young fan to meet him near the court, where he gifted him the sneakers he had worn during the game. Tatum also took a moment to pose for a photo with the thrilled boy, who leaped with joy following their encounter.
The sneakers given to the fan were Tatum’s new Jordan Brand Tatum 3s, similar to those he wore during Tuesday night’s season opener against the Knicks at TD Garden. The shoes featured the names of Tatum’s sons, Deuce and Dylan, written on the side and are relatively new as Tatum didn’t play in the fourth quarter of either game so far this season.
Despite not participating in the final quarter on Thursday, Tatum delivered impressive stats for the Celtics, scoring 25 points on 9-of-20 shooting, along with 11 rebounds and six assists. When his performance from Thursday is combined with his earlier statistics from Tuesday, where he scored 37 points, provided 10 assists, and grabbed four rebounds, Tatum joins a rare company in NBA history. He is now alongside Larry Bird as the only two forwards to achieve a total of at least 62 points, 15 rebounds, and 16 assists in the first two games of a season, according to Celtics stats expert Dick Lipe.