Okay so I finally got around to visiting Jayson Tatum’s childhood home this week. Been meaning to do this for a while, being such a big Celtics fan and all, curious where it all started for JT.
First thing I did was look up the address. It’s in St. Louis, Missouri, obviously. Took some digging online, reading old articles and forums. Eventually found it listed on a few sites mentioning famous athletes’ childhood spots. Jotted it down carefully.
Next, planned the drive. Not too far for me, luckily. Packed my phone for pictures, nothing fancy, just wanted some decent shots. Grabbed a coffee for the road, double-checked the address again, and headed out.
Got to the neighborhood and started driving slowly. Kept my eyes peeled for the house number. It’s just a regular residential street, typical older suburb feel. Nice and quiet. Almost missed it! Had to do a quick U-turn.
Pulled over a few houses down, didn’t wanna be obvious sitting right outside. Parked the car. Just sat there for a minute taking it in. It looks… well, normal. Small, brick house. Single-story. Looks well kept now. Walked a little closer slowly on foot.
Honestly? Kinda wild standing there thinking, “Yeah, Jayson Tatum dribbled a ball on this driveway, probably shot hoops right here, dreamed big kid dreams in those windows.” Makes you think.
Snapped a few quick pictures from the sidewalk. Nothing intrusive. Just the house front, the street sign, that kinda thing. Didn’t see anyone outside, which was good. Didn’t wanna bother anyone living there now.
Walked around the block a bit. Tried to see what the neighborhood vibe was like. You can kinda picture a young JT playing ball in the streets, heading to the park down the road. Definitely felt like the kind of place where a dedicated kid could put in the hours.
Got back in my car after maybe 15 minutes max. Just sat there looking at the house one last time. Felt kinda surreal, but simple. No monument, no big sign. Just a regular house where an extraordinary career began.
Drove home feeling pretty introspective. It’s a powerful reminder: superstars start somewhere ordinary. All that grind happens long before the bright lights. Makes you appreciate the journey even more.