Jayson Tatum had 19 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and one monumental blocked shot in the Celtics’ Game 1 victory against Milwaukee. He spent his rookie year gathering testimonials from those impressed with his talent and maturity, the latter quality brought into greater relief by the fact he was a teenager until early last month.
But none of this is stunning or fortuitous. Given his mother is the force of nature known as Brandy Cole Barnes, the shock would have been if Tatum wasn’t the player — and the man — you’ll see before you in Game 2 this evening.