Justin and Brandy welcomed Jayson on March 3, 1998, in St. Louis, when they were both in college. Though Justin and Brandy never lived together and eventually split, growing up, the Boston Celtics star spent time at his parents’ respective schools. He’d attend classes with his mom at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and he’d find himself in the locker room with his dad while he played basketball at Saint Louis University.

Jayson is a self-proclaimed “mama’s boy,” telling ESPN in November 2016 that Brandy is his “best friend.” He added, “I’m the biggest mama’s boy ever, and I’m proud to sаy it.”

The NBA star’s relationship with his father was slightly more complicated growing up. Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum candidly details his tough love, basketball-centric relationship with his father, Justin Tatum. Jayson recalls only spending time with his dad as a kid at basketball-related events or at the barber shop and remembers his dad’s very public abuse, even pinning him up against a locker in front of teammates. And through it all, Jayson says his dad was trying to strengthen and toughen him, and the tough love worked.