Jayson Tatum
Apr 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after a play against Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Jayson Tatum missed most of last season while Jaylen Brown helped lead the Boston Celtics to one of the best records in the NBA. After Tatum returned the Celtics lost in the first round of the playoffs. Rather than head into the ’26-’27 season with an alpha dog conundrum hanging over the franchise, Boston traded Brown to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George.
The Celtics also signed Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr.. Unfortunately, none of those moves seemed to impress Tatum’s father, Justin Tatum. The elder Tatum appeared as a guest on the first episode of the Ultimate Dads Podcast this week. The Ultimate Dads Podcast is of course hosted by LaVar Ball, Dwyane Wade Sr. and Jaylen Brown’s father, Marselles Brown.
During the podcast Ball asked Tatum who would win the NBA championship. His answer was not the Celtics, which got quite a reaction out of the other dads on the panel.
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Justin Tatum on the Celtics’ roster
NBA: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers
Apr 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reads with forward Sam Hauser (30) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) after a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
“Realistically, sh–, I might say New York might run it back,” said Tatum.
“If you don’t say the team your son on you got to be crazy,” Ball responded.
When Tatum tried to explain his prediction it sounded like a direct shot at the Celtics. “I said right now roster’s sh–.”
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Tatum did not explain what the team needed to do to improve the roster, but it sounds like if he wants something done, he might want to take a page out of Ball’s playbook.
Ball unsurprisingly picked the Timberwolves to win the title and in the process claimed responsibility for the trade to Minnesota. Ball said he told the Hornets they needed to get his other sons or they’d never win a title.
“What you must do is get his two brothers or trade him and they traded him the next day.”
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It’s hard to believe LaVar Ball hasn’t had a podcast for years. The fact that he still wants a team to sign LiAngelo in 2026 is amazing. He last played professional basketball in Mexico in 2024!
The dads podcast is already too big to fail and getting Jayson Tatum’s dad to criticize the Celtics roster 12 minutes into the first episode is the perfect introduction. Now they just have to book their next guest before all the players start begging their dads not to go on this podcast.