Jayson Tatum is making the most of a weird moment in Boston. While the Celtics just reshuffled their entire roster around him — trading Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks — Tatum spent the start of July in Las Vegas running his annual basketball camp with Chris Paul.
And he brought his son, Deuce, along for the workout.
The NBA posted video of Tatum and Paul drilling midrange jumpers and playing 2-on-2 at the Elite Camp. But the real attention-grabber was the clip of Deuce getting reps alongside his dad and a future Hall of Famer. The kid looked comfortable out there, which tracks — he’s been around NBA locker rooms his whole life.
Fans were locked in on the camp footage
Reactions online hit a few different notes. Some people just appreciated the skill on display. “The midrange mastery in this gym is absolutely ridiculous,” one fan posted. Others are already projecting ahead: “CP3 playing on Celtics for one year. JT MVP 2028,” predicted another.
A few comments also focused on Paul, who retired in February after the Clippers released him. “Paul still grinding at nearly 40 is genuinely impressive. Dude just refuses to slow down,” someone wrote. He’s not wrong — Paul looked sharp running drills even though he’s no longer on an NBA roster.
Paul has been a mentor to Tatum for years. They’re both Jordan Brand athletes, and Paul has often hosted this camp. Now he’s in a weird spot himself — no team, but still training like he’s gearing up for something. Whether that means a comeback or just staying in shape for his next role isn’t clear.
Tatum’s summer is about more than just workouts
The bigger story for Boston is how Tatum and George will fit together. George is 36 and coming off an Achilles injury. He’s not the same two-way force he was five years ago. But the Celtics clearly believe that pairing him with Tatum — and stocking up on future picks — was worth moving Brown.
Tatum stayed mostly quiet during the Brown contract drama and trade talks. That’s his style. He’s not one to air things out publicly. But he’s not blind to the situation either. The Celtics are in a strange phase — retooling while trying to stay competitive in the East. That’s a hard balance to strike.
For now, Tatum is focused on what he can control. He’s getting reps with an old friend. He’s spending time with his son. And he’s staying ready for whatever comes next, whether that means carrying a retooled roster through a long season or adjusting to a new co-star who might not be at his peak.
Lakers fans probably watched those camp clips differently. For years, Paul was linked to L.A. in trade rumors that never happened. Now he’s mentoring Boston’s franchise player in a Vegas gym. The NBA offseason moves in strange ways.
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