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Jayson Tatum: Active for the game, never questionable in the tunnel
After 10 months of wondering and waiting, fans will see Jayson Tatum make the return to the TD Garden floor and the NBA fashion tunnel as an active player.
Has the time come for a return to tunnel fashion flexing in Boston? Jayson Tatum rocked so much pre-game drip last season, and some stylish fans may have been missing the show before the show, when the star player would grace the runway tunnel with a sartorial strut.
Fellow teammates stepped up, from role players to key players, this season. Neemias Queta regularly sports ready-to-wear street style from high-end brands, while Jordan Walsh, Tatum’s birthday twin, pushes boundaries with daring colors and finishes.
That support kept things interesting, but Tatum fans really cared to know one thing: When will he be back to shooting threes and serving looks?
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According to the Celtics, Friday night.
Last time fans witnessed Tatum on the floor nearly 10 months ago, they got an unfortunate close up of his signature sneakers, the Jordan Tatum, in a favored postseason color, pink.
Throughout that season, fans sat front row to near nightly fashion shows that could rival shows in Paris and Milan.
Since then, cameras have captured Tatum courtside and backstage, so fans have gotten glimpses of the gametime drip, like when he:
Now, the afternoon of a nationally televised matchup in which JT’s return is the talk of the league, one question remains: What will Tatum wear? Known for dressing en vogue, 2026 fashion trends offer a lot of leeway and choice for a stunning debut ensemble.
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Some of those current fashion trends include:
- Animal prints on everything. Think cheetah, zebra, crocodile, tiger, and leopard, especially on unexpected accessories like bags, shoes, and belts. Who could be mad at a leopard bag or dopp kit?
- Next generation wearable tech. If you own an Apple Watch or an Oura ring, you already know. If you saw headlines about Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan at Milan Fashion Week, you likely witnessed the beginning of even more tech-embedded wardrobes. If you’re bold, you might dare to wear an “illuminated kaleidoscopic dress.”
- No more quiet luxury. Subtle is out, loud is in, according to fashion authorities. Colors, textures, and individualism rule now. Case in point? Shiny sneakers during the 2026 NBA All-Star game, particularly on the Stripes team, including first-time starter Jaylen Brown.
Many questions for a binary choice that will reveal itself within the next few hours. Will he or won’t he? Jeans or slacks? Neutral or colorful? Plain or print? Pearls or diamonds? Questionable or out? Whatever the decision, fashionistas and fans alike will be waiting.
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