For decades, the Los Angeles Lakers’ jersey has been the dream of many basketball players, who’ve dreamed of being under the lights of the Staples Center. The Lakers, who have had legends such as Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and, of course, Kobe Bryant all on the team, have been the face of the NBA, representing both success and glamour. Even players who didn’t end up with the Lakers have often held a desire to be part of their legacy. One such star is a Boston Celtics champion small forward who recently revealed a childhood dream that never came true.

In the latest episode of the Club 520 podcast,  Jayson Tatum spoke about his affinity for Kobe Bryant. “I grew up a Kobe fan. I always wanted to play for the Lakers. For them to have the No. 2 pick and it wasn’t even a thought that I was going to get drafted. That was kind of devastating,” said Tatum during the podcast.

Coming into the draft out of Duke University, Tatum was one of the premium prospects, a scoring, defensive player who possessed maturity on the court. But the Lakers went with Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick, opting for a hometown point guard to aid in building their team back up. While Tatum initially felt disappointed at not being able to join the Lakers, he quickly adjusted to life in Boston which had selected him as the third overall pick after trading the no. 1 pick.

“Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) was like, Yo Boston wanted to have you for a second workout. You should go. I’m like coach, they just came off the Eastern Conference Finals. They got a veteran team and I’m probably not gonna play. He was raving about Brad Stevens. He was like ‘Brad’s one of the best coaches in the league’. And I remember I went up to Boston like three days before the draft. I had another workout and bro you know the rest is history and it all worked out,” said Tatum during the podcast.

Tatum’s progress from a Lakers hopeful to a Celtics legend in making is quite the story. He has collected four All-Star selections, and four All-NBA team recognitions, and led the Celtics into several deep playoff runs which includes the championship win of last season. He also has been showcasing his elite skills this season, by averaging 30.3 points and 7.6 rebounds through seven games.

While he may have dreamed of replicating Kobe’s fadeaway in Forum purple and gold, Tatum has instead carved his own legacy in Celtic green. However, despite not being able to follow Kobe Bryant’s legacy with the Lakers, there is one piece of advice given by Black Mamba that has  Tatum carries with him.

Kobe Bryant’s advice that resonated with Jayson Tatum

There have been numerous instances where Tatum lauded the late Lakers veteran Kobe Bryant. And why he lauds him is also quite understandable. Bryant over the years had helped many players with tips and bits of advice and similarly, there’s one piece of advice that has helped Tatum.

During an interview with CNBC while promoting Gatorade’s “Is It In You?” campaign, Tatum revealed the advice that Bryant gave him during a practice session. “He asked me, ’How much does it mean to you? How much does it mean to be successful, the best that you can be, maximize the talents that god gave you?” Tatum told Make It. ”‘How much are you willing to sacrifice? How hard are you willing to work? You have a small window of your prime, your peak athleticism years, to achieve greatness in what you’re trying to do,'” said Taum during the interview.

This season the Celtics have played 7 games and have lost only one, indicating that they are off to a great start like last season. With the way Tatum is contributing, it can be said that Kobe’s advice has really paid off.