As the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks opened their Eastern Conference semifinal series, the spotlight wasn’t just on the hardwood—it was on history.
Jayson Tatum and OG Anunoby, once AAU teammates under the same coach, faced off as playoff rivals in Game 1 at TD Garden.
That coach? Justin Tatum—Jayson’s father and a respected figure in international basketball circles.
“It was great coaching them,” Justin told NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “They really challenged each other every day. Seeing them in the NBA Playoffs right now is crazy. I’m happy for them both. But I need the Boston Celtics to win.”
The connection between Tatum and Anunoby traces back to 2012, when both were rising prospects for the St. Louis Eagles, now known as Bradley Beal Elite.
Justin Tatum, then the head coach of the program, helped groom both players into the elite two-way wings they are today. He now leads Pelita Jaya in Indonesia and just coached the Illawarra Hawks to the 2025 NBL Championship in Australia.
But long before overseas accolades, he was shaping grassroots stars—including Beal, Larry Hughes, Darius Garland, and now his son. Tatum and Anunoby were part of a talented Missouri-based pipeline that has continued to feed the NBA over the last decade.
As Round 2 tipped off Monday, the reunion took center stage. Despite being swept by Boston in the regular season, the Knicks stormed back from 20 points down to steal Game 1 in overtime, 108-105.
Anunoby finished with 29 points and six made threes, including a key steal and dunk that tied the game late in regulation.
Brunson matched him with 29 of his own and scored in big moments as New York outshot Boston from deep, 17-for-37 compared to the Celtics’ 15-of-60.
Jayson Tatum tallied 23 points, but his final shot in regulation fell short, and the Celtics couldn’t convert late in overtime.
The Knicks now lead 1-0 heading into Wednesday’s Game 2, with the TD Garden crowd hoping for a response.
