The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are the two teams with the most NBA championships, and have also often been a fateful confrontation over the past 70 years. Therefore, it is rare for a player of this team to express admiration for the big names on the other side of the front line.
However, there are still exceptions. Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics is a typical example, when the person he idolized since childhood was Kobe Bryant, a legend with a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jayson Tatum does not hide or hesitate to share that he always uses Kobe Bryant as a symbol to strive for. In this article, The Sporting News will dig deeper into what Jayson Tatum always thinks about one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Why does Jayson Tatum idolize Kobe Bryant?
Ever since being selected by the Boston Celtics in the 3rd Pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, Jayson Tatum has affirmed that Kobe Bryant has been his idol since childhood. In the confrontation with LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 Eastern Finals, Jayson Tatum once again emphasized this, when at that time, LeBron James was considered the successor to Kobe Bryant’s legacy in the NBA.
“The team I have admired since childhood is the Lakers, and Kobe Bryant is the biggest reason why I have a passion for basketball. He was, is and will always be the player I idolize the most.
I like how he has incredible scoring shots, especially looking at his footwork when he jumps. Kobe Bryant had determination and desire to become the best player. He is serious about training himself, always knows how to motivate himself and has the will to fight like an assassin,” Jayson Tatum said.
Tatum’s mother, Brandy Cole, in an interview with Slam Magazine in 2022 also said that Tatum always wanted to study and become Kobe Bryant when he grew up.
Later, when sharing with JJ Redick on the podcast “The Old Man & The Three”, Jayson Tatum said: “There are two happiest moments in my life. The day my son was born, and the day I went to my room. practice, met Kobe Bryant for the first time and received some extremely useful tips from him.
I will never forget that day. The feeling of practicing with your idol is very difficult to describe. For me, it was the happiest day of my basketball career,” Jayson Tatum shared.
Even when wearing the Boston Celtics shirt, the rival team and always competing with Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, Jayson Tatum always expressed respect for his predecessor.
Jayson Tatum sends tribute to Kobe Bryant
Not only expressed through words, Jayson Tatum also took many actions to express his gratitude and respect for Kobe Bryant. When the legend of the Los Angeles Lakers unfortunately died in 2020 in a helicopter accident with his daughter Gianna, Jayson Tatum posted a tribute post, with photos taken with Kobe Bryant and a choking status line.
“My heart is broken. You are my hero, my idol. You are the reason I started playing basketball and found love in this sport. When I grew up, I always wanted to play basketball. Longing to be like you, wanting you to become the guide for my path.
Above all, thank you, for what you have brought to my life. You have inspired me, and I am truly grateful, more than you can imagine. A truly sad day. Rest in peace, Kobe and Gianna.”
Jayson Tatum tattooed the number 24 with two Black Mamba snakes (Kobe Bryant’s nickname) on his leg to express respect for Kobe Bryant. Every time he goes on the field, Tatum always wears an armband on his left arm, like what Kobe Bryant always did throughout his career.
In Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, Jayson Tatum even texted the late Kobe Bryant’s phone number saying “I have your blessings”, before wearing a purple armband with the number printed on it. 24 and walked onto the field. Jayson Tatum helped the Boston Celtics reach the NBA Finals that year, but lost to the Golden State Warriors.
During a practice session before the 2022 NBA Finals series, Jayson Tatum also wore a practice shirt, with the same pattern as the shirt Kobe Bryant wore during his trial period with the Boston Celtics when he was a young player.
With respect for Kobe Bryant, Jayson Tatum even wanted to play for the Los Angeles Lakers so much that he always hoped this team would call his name in the second pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. However, that was still the case. just a dream.
“The Lakers had the 2nd Pick that year and I thought I could make my dream come true. However, they didn’t seem to care about that,” Jayson Tatum interviewed with ESPN at the 2022 NBA Finals. .
In 2023, Jayson Tatum brought home a record of 55 points at the All-Star Game , officially winning the MVP title (Best Player) of that match. It’s even more meaningful when the name of this title is “Kobe Bryant All-Star Game”. Jayson Tatum said: “When this award was renamed in 2020, I told myself I had to get it one day. I accomplished my goal.”
With Jayson Tatum becoming an irreplaceable player on the Boston Celtics, the prospect of him wearing the Los Angeles Lakers shirt like Kobe Bryant is impossible. However, the spirit of Kobe Bryant, or “The Fighting Spirit of the Mamba Snake”, has always accompanied Jayson Tatum, since the day he entered the professional arena.
