Paris 2024: NBA star Jayson Tatum’s goal to win gold with his dad in the stands

With NBA star Jayson Tatum’s dad being a NBL head coach, the father-son duo are frequently apart. The pair being reunited in Paris is only giving the Celtics gun extra motivation to win gold on Sunday.

Team USA star Jayson Tatum has won an NBA championship in front of his proud father – now he wants to add an Olympic gold to the list.

Tatum’s biggest supporter – devoted dad Justin – is in the stands in Paris to watch his son play for a star American side shooting for a fifth straight crown.

Tatum senior is making the most of seeing his son in the flesh after spending the majority of the year in Australia coaching the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks.

He was elevated to the top job a quarter through the season after the Hawks parted ways with then coach Jacob Jackomas.

Tatum had an immediate impact, steering Illawarra from the NBL cellar to the top four on the back of seven wins in his first nine games as coach.

Jayson Tatum hugs his father, Justin Tatum, after Boston's championship win. Picture: Getty Images

He is now spending his off-season in Paris hoping to watch his son create more history after seeing him win the NBA title with the Boston Celtics just a month ago.

Speaking to News Corp Australia, Tatum couldn’t be happier to have his doting dad in the stands for the gold medal game against France on Saturday.

“It’s cool that he got to come and watch me win a championship and I hope he can watch me win a gold medal,” Tatum said.

“He (dad) did a great job (at the Hawks).

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“He got promoted for another season and he helped turn that team’s season around and they had a hell of season.”

The only problem is Tatum needs to actually play for Team USA.

The Celtics superstar didn’t play a minute in the comeback semi-final win over Serbia.

It’s the second game where Tatum sat after he was a DNP in America’s opener also against the Serbians.

Justin Tatum coaches the Illawarra Hawks. Picture: Getty Images.

Social media went into meltdown seeing the Celtics star sit for a second game.

Tatum is expected to feature in Saturday’s final against France – a clash that will require his athleticism and ability to defend the perimeter to contain the French’s NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama.

The Blues will be a formidable force on their home deck in front of what will be a raucous crowd at Bercy Arena.

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France lost by just seven points in the gold medal game against Team USA in Tokyo three years ago, so Tatum is expecting another torrid affair.

“Anything can happen in one game, so you have to prepare for that,” he said.

“Each game is different, especially the guys in the NBA.

“You view them how they play with their NBA teams, but they play a lot different and the game is different.

“The only real issue I see with us is the turnovers, but if we continue to take care of the ball, we’ll be all right.”

Originally published as Paris 2024: NBA star Jayson Tatum’s goal to win gold with his dad in the stands