The accolades of 25-year-old Jayson Tatum stack up on his Wikipedia page like the ascending resume of a relentless goal-setter destined for greatness: 2014 FIBA U17 Gold Medalist, 2015 FIBA U19 Gold Medalist, 2016 Gatorade National Player of the Year as a high school senior, 2017 All-ACC in his lone college season at Duke, third overall draft pick by the Boston Celtics in 2017, NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018, 4-time NBA All-Star (incl. 2023 ASG MVP), 2-time All-NBA First Team, etc. His scoring average has risen steadily each year from 14 points per game as a rookie to over 30 a night last season.
Presented in this lot are Tatum's sneakers worn to achieve one of his most impressive feats to date: 2022 Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player. After a monster 46-point outburst in Game 6 of the conference semis to beat Giannis and the Bucks, Tatum led the Celtics to another tightly contested seven-game series victory over the Miami Heat to advance to the NBA Finals. He averaged 25 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists while helping limit Jimmy Butler to single-digit scoring in two games on the other end.
These Air Jordan XXXVI "JT" kicks have been conclusively photo-matched to Game 2 in Miami when Tatum tallied 27 points, 5 boards and 5 dimes in a 127-102 blowout for Boston. The shoes have also been matched to warm-ups before Games 3 and 5, with trusted provenance from the consignor confirming they were worn during all three road games as well. Game 5 produced Tatum's best all-around performance (22 points, 12 reb. & 9 ast.) as Boston unlocked a 2-2 series tie with a critical 93-80 victory at FTX Arena.
The sleek-looking black mids come in size 15 with proper player tagging from Nike on the interior. The insoles have been removed but all other elements come as-issued. The heel tabs have the patriotic "Thirty Six" branding of this popular Air Jordan 36 model worn by only a select few NBA superstars during the 2021-22 NBA season. A circular "Jayson Tatum" Nike Jordan brand logo in shiny silver is stitched onto each lace holder. Underneath each tongue is the name of Jayson's son "Deuce" in red stitching. Tatum inscribed the lower heel of each shoe with a heart shape and "Deuce" in silver marker, which came in very handy for the photo-matches. Tatum has also signed and inscribed both toes in silver, although the net-like surface material makes his signature tough to see (inscription on right shoe is illegible).
The shoes are accompanied by a photo-matched LOA from Sports Investors Authentication, which states that the shoes exhibit expected wear, with scuffs and creases throughout the midsoles and solid wear on the outsoles. Also includes Beckett LOA for Tatum's autographs.