Jae'Sean Tate

Jae'Sean Tate's Biography

Jae’Sean Antoine Tate, known as JAY-shawn, is a consummate professional basketball player who was born on October 28, 1995. The American athlete currently brings his considerable skills to bear for the Houston Rockets, a National Basketball Association (NBA) team. Before staking a claim in the NBA, Tate was notable for his college basketball career with the Ohio State Buckeyes under the Big Ten Conference. As of now, his professional career is managed by Beyond Athlete Management.

Though Tate’s professional career is in the NBA, the genesis of his professional journey started overseas before the Houston Rockets signed him in 2020. Born into a family with a rich basketball heritage, Tate is the oldest son of Jermaine Tate, who played for Ohio State in 1996–97. His father later transferred to Cincinnati and also played professionally overseas. Unfortunately, Tate’s mother, Cori Key, was not present for much of his life due to her tragic murder by her boyfriend, Damiene Boles. After his mother’s death in 2004, Tate was raised by his father and stepmom, Jenice, amidst their three children. His life leading up to a professional basketball career was not without its emotional struggles, requiring Tate to go through anger management. A symbolic tattoo of a key adorns his leg as a testament to his late mother, and perhaps, the tough journey he’s been through.

Tate’s high school education took place at Pickerington High School Central. It was here that his substantial talents in both basketball and football came to the fore. He initially played as a defensive end and tight end until an unfortunate shoulder injury truncated his junior season, steering his focus towards basketball. He was a teammate to Caris LeVert and was instrumental in a playoff win over Columbus Marion-Franklin, contributing a game-winning tip-in. His high school basketball career was marked by success, notably winning the 2012 Division I championship and becoming a first-team all-conference player in his junior and senior years. Despite a shoulder injury, Tate managed to average 22.3 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists per game. He concluded his high school career by being ranked the number 1 player in Ohio, and the 15th ranked forward in the nation according to the ESPN top 100.

When he moved on to college, his freshman year at Ohio State saw him posting sturdy figures of 8.8 points and 5 rebounds per game. He later climbed to an average of 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game after starting full-time against Northwestern in 2015. For his efforts, Tate was delegated to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Despite being only 6’4″, Tate was a critical asset to the Buckeyes, with performances often showcasing abilities beyond his size. His presence was felt throughout his sophomore and junior years, where he averaged 11.7 and 14.3 points per game respectively. His contributions to the team earned him countless accolades, including a Big Ten Honorable Mention and selection to the Honorable Mention All-Big Ten team.

In his senior year, Tate’s basketball prowess was in full display. As a captain alongside Bates-Diop, Tate set an Ohio State record by scoring 10-for-10 from the field in a win over Northeastern. He maintained an average of 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, contributing to the team’s NCAA Tournament finish of 25-9. His brilliant performance was duly recognized as he was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and received an honorable mention from the media.

After college, Tate worked on refining his game in preparation for a professional career. However, he didn’t get drafted in the 2018 NBA draft and later joined the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018 NBA Summer League, but was unable to play due to a fractured finger. He then signalled the start of his professional career overseas in Belgium with the Antwerp Giants, where he was a Belgian League all-star. Tate played a pivotal role in helping the Giants win their first Belgian Cup title in 12 years, averaging 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

In 2019, he signed with the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). Tate’s performance was exceptional, averaging 16.4 points, 2 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game, which earned him a place in the All-NBL First Team. His journey then took him back to America on November 26, 2020, when he signed with the Houston Rockets of the NBA.

In just a year, Tate has made a significant impact as an NBA player, and his rise has been no less than spectacular. Marked out for consistent and influential performances, Tate holds NBA records for his crucial contributions. He scored an NBA career-high 32 points in a win over Oklahoma City Thunder, with 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals.

In terms of play style, the 6’4″ Tate predominantly takes on the small forward and power forward positions. Starting his rookie season with the Houston Rockets, Tate gained a reputation as a strong defender. A left-handed player, Tate is known for his aggressive drives, finishing well at the rim and scoring 69% of his attempts as a rookie. His relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the court represents an inspiring journey marked by overcoming adversities, determination and exceptional talent.