Photo: Jayson Tatum Shares NBA Goals from 4th Grade, Eyed Lakers Trade By Age 30

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJuly 17, 2024

Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty Images

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum knew he wanted to be an NBA star when he was a fourth-grader in St. Louis. But he had a whole life plan mapped out too, including foreseeing a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers by the time he was 30.

NBACentral @TheDunkCentralJayson Tatum’s goals in the 4th grade:

– Attend one year at Ohio State University

– Have two children, a boy named Justin and a girl named Nichole.

– Live in Phoenix, Arizona.

– Play for the Phoenix Suns for six years

– Get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

– Play for the… pic.twitter.com/Z5WFJb2CmE

Tatum was a little off on some picks, although the then-fourth-grader can certainly be forgiven for not being able to see into the future 10-20 years down the road. A trade to the Lakers isn’t happening, although Tatum is certainly happy with the Celtics, who just inked him to a five-year, $315 million extension.

He did end up spending one year in school, at Duke, before the C’s selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft.

He’s already played for the USA Olympic men’s basketball team, having won a gold medal at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021. Tatum is looking for his second gold medal in Paris this summer.

Fourth-grade Tatum also foresaw three championships by age 30. He’s already won one NBA championship by age 30, and the 26-year-old has got four more seasons to win a couple more.

But most importantly, Tatum’s prediction on giving back to the community and children in need was spot on, as his Jayson Tatum Foundation strives to “positively impact and inspire children, teens and their families through education, athletics and support, and to encourage them to strive to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.”