Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum endured a painfully awkward shooting display during a promotional trip to China, missing his first ten consecutive free throws in front of a live audience. The viral video of the six-time All-Star's struggles quickly became prime material for NBA social media, which mercilessly mocked the Celtics' franchise player. This off-court moment arrives as the team's on-court form has dipped, having lost their last three games including a 100-109 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers on May 2, 2026.
What happened with Jayson Tatum in China?
Jayson Tatum was in China for Jordan Brand, promoting his signature shoe line with a series of fan appearances. During one event, he joined supporters for a casual free-throw shooting session at a makeshift basket. What followed was an uncharacteristic and brutal shooting slump from one of the league's elite scorers.
Tatum proceeded to miss his first ten attempts from the charity stripe. Each airball or clank off the rim was met with a collective groan from the crowd, turning a fun interaction into a cringe-worthy spectacle. The tension finally broke on his eleventh shot, which found the bottom of the net. Tatum immediately raised both arms in celebration as if he had hit a game-winner, a reaction that only amplified the moment's strangeness.
How did NBA social media react?
The clip spread across platforms like X almost instantly. Basketball observers did not hold back. One user wrote, "Bro building the Great Wall over there… brick by brick," referencing the infamous 'brick' slang for a missed shot. Another simply summarized the entire episode as "Awkward."
Account Kyrie Center posted, "Jayson Tatum doesn't realize what he just did for NBA Twitter." Another predicted the video would go "Triple platinum on slander Twitter." The jokes even extended to Tatum's young son, Deuce, with one supporter quipping, "Better start teaching Deuce Mandarin."
The conversation inevitably turned to the Celtics' major offseason move. One Los Angeles Lakers fan reacted, "When Boston realizes they traded the wrong player," a clear dig at the team's decision to trade Jaylen Brown. Not every fan joined the pile-on, however. Some Celtics loyalists defended their star, with one saying he was just "Getting his misses out before the season starts."
Why does this matter for the Boston Celtics?
Context makes the jokes easier to understand. Following the trade of Jaylen Brown, Tatum is now the undisputed centerpiece of the most decorated franchise in NBA history. The 6-foot-8 forward carries the weight of Boston's championship expectations squarely on his shoulders. Any sign of weakness, even in a silly offseason event, gets magnified.
That defensive fan comment has some statistical merit. Over his nine-year career, Tatum has been a reliable 83.9% shooter from the free-throw line. A streak of ten straight misses is a bizarre outlier, not the norm. It's possible he was just shaking off rust before the real games begin. You can track his and the team's official stats on our stats page once the season gets underway.
Still, the optics weren't great. The Celtics' recent form shows a team that needs its leader locked in. Their last five results show a 2W-3L record (LLLWW), with those three consecutive losses capping the run. The most recent was that 100-109 loss to the 76ers. Turning that around will require Tatum at his best, not struggling from 15 feet away.
What comes next for Tatum and the Celtics?
Tatum left China with a memorable story, ten bricks, one make, and enough content to keep the internet buzzing. For the Celtics, the focus must swiftly return to the court. The team will need Tatum's proven scoring, rebounding, and playmaking to climb the standings and make another deep playoff run.
This viral moment will likely be forgotten once the regular season tips off and the real pressure begins. But for now, it serves as a funny, awkward reminder that even superstars have off days. The key for Boston is ensuring those days are reserved for promotional tours and not for games that count. Fans can monitor the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
