The Boston Celtics showed a lot of faith in Jayson Tatum this offseason when they traded former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The trade left Tatum, who returned from an Achilles tear late last season before ending the playoffs injured on the bench, as the undisputed best player on the Celtics roster.
However, do not count Tatum’s father, Justin Tatum, among those that believes his son can lead the Celtics back to the NBA Finals next season.
Speaking during an appearance on the “Ultimate Dads Unplugged” podcast, host LaVar Ball (father of NBA guard LaMelo Ball) asked Justin Tatum for his NBA Finals prediction.
To the surprise of many online and Ball, Justin Tatum’s pick to win next season’s NBA Finals was a Celtics rival.
“Realistically, sh—t, I might say New York might run it back,” Tatum said, referring to the reigning-champion Knicks potentially winning back-to-back titles.
“I’ll slap the hell out of you,” Ball replied. “If you don’t say the team your son on, you gotta be crazy.”
Others on social media, agreed with Ball.
“I’m with Lavar,” X user @tcfromantioch wrote. “I’m saying my son’s team is winning every year. Like Vito Corleone said, ‘Never go against the family.'”
It would have been easy, and understandable, if Justin Tatum rode with the Celtics to win it all because of his allegiance to his son. Instead, it was a rare moment of unbiased analysis that we do not often see in public from the parents of sports stars.
Another X user guessed that Justin Tatum, who clearly does not believe Boston’s roster around Tatum is championship caliber, was using his prediction to motivate his son.
“I respect it. He’s being honest instead of bias,” @BJ_Th3Juic3Man3 wrote. “What better motivation than your own dad saying your team isn’t good enough to win it? I see what he’s doing.”
In addition to the always-outspoken Ball, The “Ultimate Dads Unplugged” podcast also featured Brown’s father, Quenton Brown Sr., and Dwyane Wade Sr., father of Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Dwyane Wade.
Predictably, Brown Sr. picked his son’s 76ers to win the NBA Finals, a popular pick after his son was traded to Philadelphia and the team acquired LeBron James in free agency.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Knicks, and 76ers, in that order, have the best odds to win the NBA Finals next season, according to Fanduel Sportsbook; the Celtics are right behind the top four with the fifth-best odds.
Despite not picking his son to win the Finals, it is unlikely Justin Tatum will be upset if his son proves him wrong.
“Just winning and seeing the success of my kids,” Tatum said on the podcast about what he considers his proudest moments. “That’s probably about it. Me having the opportunities to find a way to keep polishing my craft as a coach and as a dad.
“And being able to see my kids smile, and succeed, and don’t have to need my ass for anything.”
