Jayson Tatum has become the face of the Boston Celtics in the last few seasons. He has only improved his game with every passing game and looks like a big star in the making. The Celtics star is having another great season while his team have mostly struggled.
Tatum is currently averaging 25.7 points this season and has delivered some of the best performances this season. It is not unknown that Taum is a massive Kobe Bryant fan. The young Celtic has spoken about the Mamba multiple times in the past and has also shared how Kobe was the reason he started playing basketball. When he was just 20 years old Tatum had the chance to work out with his idol, Kobe Bryant and it was a surreal experience for the Celtics man. The 23-year-old has spent his entire life idolizing the Los Angeles Lakers legend and has also strived to be at least be a percentage of the Black Mamba. Tatum shared a great bond with Bryant and was left shell shocked when he heard the news of Bryant’s sudden demise a year ago.
Speaking on Knuckleheads Podcast recently, Jayson talked about a very special tattoo on his body which he got done paying tribute to his idol, Kobe Bryant. “I love tattoos and it’s a way to like express yourself… Whatever story you trying to tell, somebody as important and influential to me as anybody, rest in peace, Kobe. I always knew after what happened that I would eventually get one, I just wanted to take some time. So I got 24 in a Black Mamba with the scales detailed going down the inside of my left knee,” Tatum said when asked about why he got a Kobe tattoo.
Tatum just like most kids loved Bryant during his best times in the NBA. Tatum was lucky that he was a subject in Kobe Bryant’s Detail in ESPN+. Bryant always lauded the talent present in Tatum and mentioned that in that video. Tatum heard every single word of Bryant and has applied that in his NBA career.
Kobe Bryant’s workout session with Tatum changed the latter’s career. The former Lakers star asked Tatum to always ask one question- How much does it mean to you? Till now it has worked nicely for Tatum who credits Mamba for achieving elite mentality.
