Jayson Tatum's grandmother was bleeding green nearly 50 years before he was born.
Or at the least, she was watching Jo Jo White.
The Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach published an excellent story Wednesday detailing the bond that Tatum's grandma, Rose Mary Johnson, shared with the Celtics legend and NBA Hall of Famer. Both of their families grew up on St. Louis' south side in the 1950s, and the kids would do everything together from shooting hoops to attending church. Long and boisterous Sunday dinners were a treasured tradition.
"We were really like one big family," said Rose Mary, whose son is Tatum's father. "Jo Jo's family helped raise us and had such an impact on our lives."
White, who died in 2018 following a series of health issues, became a two-time All-American at Kansas and won Olympic gold with the U.S. at the 1968 Olympics. The Celtics selected White with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft.
He became a seven-time All-Star, and his No. 10 is appropriately situated in the Garden rafters.
"It is pretty cool to think about, him being from St. Louis and a Celtics and NBA great, and that he actually grew up with my grandmother," Tatum told the Globe. "And now, I'm here. It's just really cool."
Rose Mary attended her first Celtics game on her 21st birthday in 1971, when White invited her to see them play the Bulls in Chicago. She partied with White and his teammates all night long. "It was the most memorable birthday," she said.
Forty-six years later, the Celtics drafted her grandson at No. 3 overall. Though White's health was failing at that point, he was overjoyed to see Tatum wearing green.
"It gave him such a complete high. It gave him life," said Jo Jo's wife, Debbie.
That's exactly how Celtics fans feel watching Tatum night in and night out.
