Championship DNA clearly runs in the Tatum bloodline. Fresh off an NBA title with the Boston Celtics last season, Jayson Tatum had some inspiring words for his father, Justin Tatum, as he led the Illawarra Hawks to an NBL championship. And those words? They hit differently.
After a hard-fought Game 5 win that secured the Hawks’ first title in 24 years, Justin Tatum sat at the podium in championship goggles, soaked in champagne, and reflected on the moment his son fired up his team before the biggest game of their season.
Jayson Tatum’s Message Ignites The Hawks
Before tip-off of the winner-take-all Game 5, Justin Tatum woke up to a video message from his son. Not just for him—but for his players.
The moment was so powerful that even the NBL’s official account had to highlight it, “If they could do it, we could do it.”
“If they could do it, we could do it” 🥹
Jayson Tatum and the whole @celtics squad tuned in to watch the @illawarrahawks win the NBL25 Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wBd4r8TYg2
— NBL (@NBL) March 23, 2025
“[Jayson] sent a support message to my group, which I think enlightened them a lot,” Justin told reporters. “Like, the whole 2023-24 Boston Celtics are about to watch our game right now. And then those guys say, ‘If they can do it, we can do it.'”
That’s all it took. The words of motivation, straight from a reigning NBA champion? Now that carried weight. Talk about a pep talk? Nah, it was a mindset shift. The Hawks charged the floor that night knowing. For them, they weren’t just playing for a trophy, it was about making history.
When the final buzzer sounded, it wasn’t just a win. It was a storybook ending.
Boston’s Own Keeps The Momentum Rolling
As his father celebrated halfway across the world, Jayson Tatum was putting in work of his own. With Jaylen Brown sidelined, the Celtics forward dropped 30 points in a commanding 129-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Boston’s five-game win streak displays its depth. But make no mistake about it, Tatum continues to be the engine that drives this team.
Meanwhile, in the NBL, there was another moment of pure class. Former NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova, who was named the Finals MVP, made a bold move—handing his award to Hawks guard Will Hickey, whom he believed was the true MVP of the series.
A fitting finale to an amazing NBL season.
Jayson and Justin Tatum are proving that championship culture isn’t just built—it’s passed down. And with Boston and Illawarra both making history, the question now is: what’s next for the Tatums? Because if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that they aren’t done winning.