Jayson Tatum Shows Off Jordan Brand Collection, Reflects On Signature Sneaker Launch

As one of the NBA’s brightest stars, the face of the league’s original monarchy, the Boston Celtics, and a reigning NBA champion, it’s no surprise that Jayson Tatum is one of the league’s most popular players.

The St. Louis, Missouri native is a six-time All-Star. He earned All-Star Game MVP honors in 2023, setting a new scoring record at the Association’s marquee exhibition contest, registering 55 points. Tatum is soon to add a fifth All-NBA First Team selection to his resume.

The former Duke Blue Devil now boasts the fourth-highest-selling jersey in the NBA. He earned the third-most fan votes for this year’s All-Star Game. Both are a testament to his incredibly high Q Rating.

As a signature Jordan Brand athlete, Tatum also has a line of signature sneakers. His shoes feature detailed colorways, drawing inspiration from his life. For instance, the launch of the Tatum 1s began with the ‘Welcome to the Zoo’ colorway. It’s a sneaker that reflects his relationship with his son, Deuce, and the latter’s love for animals and going to the zoo.

“That was super special,” recalled Tatum regarding what it felt like to see the Tatum 1s for the first time. In this stroll down memory lane on a video he recently posted on his YouTube Channel, Tatum continued, “[you] dream about it, put in all the time and behind-the-scenes work to make it become a reality, and then hold them.

“And the special part to me is seeing fans and kids wear them,” said Tatum. “It’s like, damn, I made it to that point; I’m one of them guys where they want to wear my shoes.”

The Celtics star also utilized having a signature line of sneakers to highlight a close-knit group who are there with him every step of the way as he builds a career on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory and grows his brand off the court.

“There’s a handful of us — we’re always together,” conveyed Tatum while holding a pair of the Tatum 3s featuring the “Highlights” colorway. “We’re like brothers. “In the summertime, we’re always traveling and we’re always working, but we have a little fun. So, this colorway is to represent [a]

tropical vacation when we go on trips.”

The palm tree, camera, dumbell, and feather on the back heel of the sneakers are a nod to the group and the work [that] they put in while on these productive vacations.

As Tatum showed off his sprawling sneaker collection, filled with seemingly every pair of Air Jordans one could dream of, he also revealed what his favorite pair of sneakers was growing up. It’s an iconic shoe that eluded him until he signed with Jordan Brand: the Air Jordan 11s in a “Cool Grey” colorway.

“I remember, when I signed with Jordan Brand, I was like, ‘That’s my favorite Jordan of all time; can I get a pair?'” Asked Tatum. “And now I’ve got six pairs.”

Reflecting on a time when all he could do was wish for this crown jewel among sneaker collectors, the star forward recalled, “I remember being a kid and being upset that I never got them. And I was like, ‘Man, when I make it, amongst other things, I was like, man, I’m gonna get me some.'”

It’s a sneaker so near and dear to Tatum’s heart that he shared, “I’ll probably never wear them — they’re just special to me.”

Tatum’s Celtics are about to embark on a playoff run that starts on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden against the Orlando Magic. After another season with at least 60 wins, Boston hopes to become the first team since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in consecutive campaigns.