Jayson Tatum has led from the front and carried his team to NBA Finals 2022. But apart from his heroics, Jayson is also known for how big of a fan he is of late NBA legend, Kobe Bryant. He even wore an armband and dedicated it to Kobe in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Although not many people know that at one point, Tatum’s father used to hate his basketball skill because of Kobe.

What is Kobe’s fault?

The late Kobe Bryant had been a mentor to Jayson Tatum. Crediting him rightfully, the Celtics star has mentioned Bryant multiple times during his career. While talking to GQ, Tatum revealed that he used to get scolded a lot during his schooling years. It was because rather than studying, he used to spend his time watching Mamba’s videos and trying to imitate them. One of his favorite moves was Kobe’s baseline fadeaway. 

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He also stated that his dad used to hate Tatum’s imitation of the great. Tatum quoted his dad used to look at him and feel “It was such a bad shot for a second grader”. While Kobe had no direct involvement in this, Tatum’s father considered him to be a reason for his son attempting that shot and failing miserably.

Kobe and Tatum

Jayson Tatum has nothing but appreciation for the late icon. He had been a fan of the star since his schooldays and often got scolded for spending too much time watching his video. To his sunrise and maybe god’s grace, Kobe took Tatum under his wings.

The Celtics star was mentored by the Lakers legend in a unique one-on-one workout. He trained and guided Tatum in his initial NBA years. It won’t be wrong to say that Kobe helped him instill the mamba mindset he is putting on display today.

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A big opportunity to show the world that he is really Kobe’s student is just around the corner for Jayson Tatum. As all eyes turn to the NBA Finals, fans eagerly wait to see how the Celtics star will perform on the biggest stage of all. What are your expectations of Jayson Tatum?