Bradley Beal once described Jayson Tatum as his little brother, and he has good reason to. Back during their younger days, Beal, five years older than the Boston Celtics superstar at 32, literally babysat a young Jayson as a toddler before becoming a mentor-figure during his teenage at St. Louis. The two may be rivals on court, but off it, Tatum is likely to be present at most major occasions in the Clippers’ life.

That proved true also when Tatum showed up at Beal’s star-studded wedding this summer, decked up in a black tuxedo while sporting a fresh set of braids. He went on to post an emotional congratulatory message that perfectly captured the essence of their relationship.

“Was a honor to be a part of my big brotha @bradbeal3 special day, meant the world being there with you. @kamiahadams sis, couldn’t be happier for you, love y’all both 🤞🏽❤️!” Tatum wrote on Instagram alongside a carousel of pictures from the event. The post opened with a powerful image of Tatum and Beal shaking hands, a symbol of their brotherhood. The rest of the carousel offered glimpses into the beautiful celebration, Beal’s wife walking down the aisle, their children spending with uncle Tatum, then the groomsman walking up the aisle, the two friends hugging, posing for pictures, dancing, and simply having a great time.

Then came Beal’s reply, “My bro 4L! Greatly appreciate you 🤝🏽🙏🏽…🔥🔥🔥.” Six words, but enough to stir the hearts of any fan who knows just how far back these two go. St. Louis isn’t known for producing a long line of NBA superstars, but it’s given the league two of its most dynamic players in Beal and Tatum. Their connection didn’t start in the league, it began in childhood, rooted in the same neighborhood, the same high school, Chaminade College Prep, and a deep family bond.

Beal, five years older, was already a high school phenom when Tatum was still in middle school. His mom coached Tatum’s mom in volleyball, and Beal took young Jayson under his wing. From AAU circuits where Tatum played for Beal’s team to private mentoring sessions and spring breaks spent in Washington D.C., their relationship was never surface-level. Tatum has often said Beal is like the older brother he never had, the blueprint for making it in the league.

“Without you, it wouldn’t be me,” Tatum once said in a surprise video for Beal in a 2022 Bleacher Report interview. “You don’t get enough credit, but I’m always giving you the credit … my big brother, man, I appreciate you. You know it’s all love.” Beal fought back emotion during that interview, reflecting on how surreal it felt to hear that from someone he once yelled at on the AAU court.

Sitting with Taylor Rooks, hearing Tatum speak from the heart, he got emotional. “It’s surreal in a lot of ways,” Beal said at the time. “Because for me, I didn’t have that image, per se… I learned on the fly, and to see Jayson succeed the way he has? That means everything.”

They share a bond built in gyms and nurtured over years of shared dreams, which has reached its most heartfelt moment yet. Now, years later, instead of sharing a court, they are sharing milestones. So when Beal decided to throw the full wedding celebration this summer, Tatum stood front and center at the ceremony, on groomsman duties.

From mentor to groomsman

The wedding was a full-circle moment, not just for Beal and Kamiah, who finally held a public celebration after marrying privately during the pandemic, but for Beal and Tatum’s brotherhood too. Tatum showed up soaking up the occasion alongside Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Quinn Cook, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Garrett Temple, and more. Even John Wall and stood beside Beal on his biggest day.

And judging by Tatum’s photos and Instagram reposts, it wasn’t just a ceremonial role. These were two men who had seen each other grow through every chapter: youth, high school, NBA stardom, and now adulthood. Tatum, still recovering from an Achilles injury that could keep him out for the 2025-26 season, was spotted with his viral new braided hairstyle, laughing it up with stars like Kevin Durant and The Game. But even in a room full of NBA legends, his message to Beal stood out.

Not because it was flashy, but because it was real. And Beal’s reply, six words packed with brotherhood and gratitude felt like the perfect bookend to a relationship that’s been years in the making. Now, as Beal enters a hopeful new chapter with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Tatum works to return to the floor for the Celtics, their friendship remains a constant.