Why NBA Superstar Jayson Tatum Had To Move Back In With His Mother After His Season-Ending Injury

NBA superstar Jayson Tatum's quest for a second consecutive championship was cut short this past season after he suffered a devastating ruptured Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Olympic gold medalist has been open about the mental toll of his season-ending injury, and now, in a new interview, he's revealing just how drastically his life changed after undergoing surgery in May 2025.

“This is something that has really affected my life,” Tatum told Us Weekly. “Obviously, I got injured and I wasn’t able to play, but my day-to-day life really drastically changed. I had to move back to my mom’s house because I wasn’t able to go up and down steps. I had to stay on the first floor."

Tatum explained that after his surgery, it would take him close to "50 minutes" to shower and get dressed.

He also had to adjust to life with a walker and shower seat, saying, “I had to make sure I didn’t slip in the shower. I had to be real careful. Things like that just really altered my life. That was really tough to deal with.”

And while Tatum wasn't necessarily excited about the reason for moving back in with his mother, the "Starting 5" star tried his hardest to seize the moment.

“It was like high school,” he said. “Who better to help you through this than the person that raised you? I couldn’t be more thankful to be in a position where my mom lived really close and I was able to stay with her.”

Tatum also joked that his mother wasn't too pleased with how his recovery process started, either. “You know, she’d probably say I was hard-headed. Because I was still trying to do a lot of things on my own. I didn’t want much help, but she was always there," he said.

Tatum has always had an especially close relationship with his mother, who helped motivate him to be the best he could be on the hardwood during his younger years.

After winning his first championship in the 2023-24 season, Tatum spoke about the immense support system his mother has always been, revealing she "always believed that I would get to where I am."

Tatum's mother, Brandy Cole, echoed that sentiment during a separate interview with the "TODAY" show, saying she knew her son was "gifted" because he could execute skills that "you just couldn't teach."

She also pushed her son to give 100 percent effort in everything he attempted.

"We can't want it more than they do. That's the biggest thing," she said. "And I think sometimes we want to push them more. And so that was the line for me — I would tell him, 'Listen, I will give you every opportunity, every resource, I'll do whatever it takes, but you have to do your part.'"

Aside from reminiscing on his high school days while staying with his mother, Tatum also revealed that his relationship with his sons, Deuce, 7, and Dylan, 14 months, was strengthened as a result of his injury.

He explained that during the NBA's off seasons, he'd normally be busy with travel and other work commitments. However, since May 2025, the 27-year-old has spent most of his time in Boston.

He added that another positive of spending more time at home is getting to see his oldest son grow up. “He’s comprehending things a lot more. He’s more attentive. The conversations are different than when he was 4. He’s my mini best friend that I just love being around," he said.

In the summer, Tatum shared a few heartwarming Instagram posts of him and his kids, sparking tons of positivity from fans about the NBA star's parenting.

In one post, Tatum is seen sitting next to his two kids, leading to comments about how much they've grown.

In another, he's seen lacing up a pair of basketball sneakers for Deuce, sparking comments that the two might become the "greatest father-son duo" to ever do it.