Did Jayson Tatum’s father, Justin Tatum, cross the line with his NSFW take on the 2026-27 Celtics’ roster?
Jayson Tatum’s dad — Justin Tatum — doesn’t believe the Boston Celtics are good enough to compete for a championship in 2026-27, as his NSFW comments on the team’s current state went viral. Did Tatum’s dad’s harsh prediction go too far? Well, that depends on how you take those words into context.
On paper, it sounds like Jayson Tatum’s dad is trashing the Celtics’ roster. However, context matters, which is why Justin Tatum compared the team to title contenders ahead of the 2026-27 Celtics season, per the Ultimate Dads Unplugged podcast.
“Right now, the roster is s***,” said Tatum, which, in comparison to other title contenders, isn’t far from the truth.
Lavar Ball PRESSED Jayson Tatum’s Dad Justin for saying the NY Knicks will win the 2027 NBA championship instead of backing up his son and choosing the Boston Celtics to win it all
“I’ll slap the hell out of you. If you don’t say the team your son is on, you gotta be… pic.twitter.com/WuTKMNWFH0
— Slime (@ItsKingSlime) August 23, 2026
The Dads Unplugged is properly titled for a podcast hosted by NBA dads, including Lonzo and LaMelo Ball’s father, LaVar Ball. All-Star Jaylen Brown’s father and Tatum’s pops keep it 100 about their takes. After parting with Brown in their blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft capital, the Celtics are still projected to reach the playoffs. However, they’re far from contenders in 2026-27.
The defending champion New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavs, the Detroit Pistons, and the Sixers, given they signed LeBron James to join All-Star Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe in addition to Brown, are all projected to have a better season than Boston. Adding rebounding and rim protection in their free-agent signing of Mitchell Robinson improves the Celtics’ frontcourt.
The Celtics’ signing of Mike Conley Jr. gives them a secondary facilitator. On paper, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum’s supporting cast might look better than what Brown had last season. However, the Eastern Conference landscape has improved. The 2025 Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers are back in the mix as a dark horse with Tyrese Haliburton’s anticipated comeback season after spending 2025-26 recovering from a devastating ruptured Achilles injury in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals.
Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks last summer, has been replaced by Ivica Zubac. Bennedict Mathurin was involved in the Pacers’ trade with the LA Clippers; however, Kelly Oubre Jr. signed a two-year, $16.5 million deal during the offseason. Veteran Larry Nance Jr. also signed with the Pacers.
The Pistons upgraded their frontcourt by trading for John Collins in a multi-team blockbuster move, parting ways with Caris LeVert and Isaiah Stewart in exchange for veterans Taurean Prince and Garry Harris. The Pistons also signed Isaiah Joe, an underrated move after letting Tobias Harris walk in free agency, as he’s one of the most efficient shooters and will join forces with Duncan Robinson.
Looking to build off their 4-0 sweep at the hands of the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs’ trade for Peyton Watson adds an intriguing wrinkle to Cleveland’s core of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley. And Giannis Antetokounmpo took his talents to South Beach, as the Miami Heat will look to re-enter the conversation of championship contenders.
Following the Jimmy Butler era, when the Heat made two Finals appearances (2020, 2023) in four seasons, Miami will look to build around Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins. The Heat also signed Klay Thompson after the four-time champion reached a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks.
The 2026-27 Celtics will have their hands full on any given night, considering the Eastern Conference could wind up to be more competitive than the Western Conference this upcoming season. Paul George’s performance will factor into the Celtics’ ability to reach their full potential, but so will the others, as George could be an ideal fourth option on a team with championship experience.
The exponential growth of veteran guards such as Derrick White and Payton Pritchard could drastically change the Celtics’ outlook. How they excel in their expected increased roles alongside Tatum could exceed expectations. The Celtics’ prospects include Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr., all of whom could change Boston’s complexion, depending on their respective growth from 2025-26.
They all played a role in helping Brown lead the Celtics to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference last season. Tatum will need the same kind of support, or more, in order for the 2026-27 Celtics to enter the conversation of title contenders.
Jayson Tatum’s dad — Justin Tatum — doesn’t believe the Boston Celtics are good enough to compete for a championship in 2026-27, as his NSFW comments on the team’s current state went viral. Did Tatum’s dad’s harsh prediction go too far? Well, that depends on how you take those words into context.