Ryan Haley
June 4, 2024 12:37 pm ET
It’s hard to imagine jayson tatum’s first seven years in the NBA going much better.
The former Duke basketball star went third overall to the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA draft, and all he’s done since is become the first Blue Devil to make multiple All-NBA First Teams, reach five Eastern Conference finals, and make the NBA Finals twice.
With the 2024 Finals set to start on Thursday, the 26-year-old is the betting favorite to win Finals MVP with his Celtics, fresh off a 64-win season and a 12-2 run through the conference bracket, heavy favorites to win the title. He seems like a sure bet to usurp Grant Hill as the best Duke alum in league history by the time he’s done, and he’s arguably the best former Blue Devil in NBA history already.
Here’s a look back at Tatum from 2017 until now with his best photos since draft night.
NBA: Draft
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Summer League-Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
Jul 8, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum looks on against the…
Jul 8, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Thomas & Mack Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers
Oct 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) warms up before action…
Oct 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) warms up before action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics
Nov 12, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks the ball during…
Nov 12, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks the ball during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Denver Nuggets at Boston Celtics
Dec 13, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) signals after making a…
Dec 13, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) signals after making a three pointer against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
May 13, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward…
May 13, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter in game one of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
May 23, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) high-fives fans as he…
May 23, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) high-fives fans as he walks off of the court after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics
Dec 14, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward (20) and forward Jayson Tatum…
Dec 14, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward (20) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) share a laugh during the second half of Boston's 129-108 win over the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics
Dec 14, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) goes in for a…
Dec 14, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) goes in for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of Boston's 129-108 win at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics
Dec 20, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) posters adorns the seats…
Dec 20, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) posters adorns the seats at TD Garden before the start of the game against the Detroit Pistons. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics
Dec 20, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives the ball against…
Dec 20, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives the ball against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) in the second half at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics defeated Detroit 114-93. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
Aug 17, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (8) and forward…
Aug 17, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (8) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrate in the first half against the Philadelphia 76ersin game one of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Clippers
Feb 5, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates in the…
Feb 5, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers at Staples Center.The Celtics defeated the Clippers 119-115. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
May 25, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the…
May 25, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets power forward Kevin Durant (7) during the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Olympics: Basketball-Men Finals - Gold Medal Match
Aug 7, 2021; Saitama, Japan; USA player Zach Lavine (5) and USA player Jayson Tatum (10)…
Aug 7, 2021; Saitama, Japan; USA player Zach Lavine (5) and USA player Jayson Tatum (10) high five in the third quarter of the gold medal game during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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Olympics: Basketball-Men Finals - Bronze Medal Match
Aug 7, 2021; Saitama, Japan; United States Zachary Lavine (right) and United States Jayson Tatum (left)…
Aug 7, 2021; Saitama, Japan; United States Zachary Lavine (right) and United States Jayson Tatum (left) celebrate with their goal medals during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
Dec 22, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives the ball against…
Dec 22, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Denzel Valentine (45) in the half quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
Apr 20, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) heads back up court…
Apr 20, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) heads back up court after making a basket against the Brooklyn Nets as his former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski (center) looks on during the third quarter of game two of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
Apr 20, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) carries his son, Jason…
Apr 20, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) carries his son, Jason Jr. off the court following their win over the Brooklyn Nets in game two of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Finals-Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics
Jun 10, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles the ball in…
Jun 10, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dribbles the ball in front of Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the second quarter of game four in the 2022 NBA Finals at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Finals-Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics
Jun 10, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) attempts a layup past…
Jun 10, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) attempts a layup past Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first quarter of game four in the 2022 NBA Finals at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Jun 13, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball…
Jun 13, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the second quarter in game five of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics
Feb 10, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and his son Deuce…
Feb 10, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and his son Deuce prior to a game against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: 72nd NBA All-Star Game
Feb 19, 2023; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Team Giannis forward Jayson Tatum (0) holds the…
Feb 19, 2023; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Team Giannis forward Jayson Tatum (0) holds the Kobe Bryant MVP Trophy after the 2023 NBA All-Star Game at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
May 19, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is introduced before game…
May 19, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is introduced before game two of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Miami Heat at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Playoffs-Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
May 19, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after a basket…
May 19, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after a basket during the first half against the Miami Heat in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
Dec 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts during the…
Dec 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
Dec 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks for the…
Dec 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks for the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Playoffs-Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers
May 13, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates after a win…
May 13, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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