We all tried to copy the moves of a player we liked when we were young. And in elementary school, Jayson Tatum preferred learning how to reproduce Kobe Bryant’s fadeaway to perfection rather than his math lessons. JT has since grown up, became an NBA player, and was able to get closer to his idol. Today, after Kobe left us more than two years ago, the Celtics winger paid tribute to him on the Miami floor on Sunday, the most important game day of his career.
Sunday May 29, day of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Heat and the Celtics. The Boston players have just finished eating and are heading back to their rooms to take a quick nap in preparation for tonight’s game. Before falling asleep, some read a book, call their family. Jayson Tatum prefers to turn on the TV in his bedroom to watch Kobe’s career highlights. When he wakes up, the Boston winger decides to send a message to the Black Mamba number: he intends to honor his idol for the most important match of his career according to him. Next to the green jersey in the locker room, a purple armband embroidered with a yellow 24, and all-black Jordan 36s in imitation snakeskin. These “Black Mamba” shoes were entirely conceptualized by Jayson Tatum. He added to the back of each heel a phrase Kobe said during their workout together in 2018 when he was still a rookie: « How much does it mean to you ? » (How important is that to you?) and « Keep it rollin’ » (Keep doing what you do all the time). That night, JT did not have the game of his life, but he showed his flawless versatility (26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) in defense of the Heat, and was clutch when necessary during the last quarter- time. The Celtics winger is rewarded for his very good series in the finals of conf ‘and becomes the first Eastern Conference Finals MVP in history. He understood Kobe’s message well in 2018, he continued to do what he knew how to do on the Miami floor. the “I got you today” that he texted to his number before leaving for the FTX Arena then makes perfect sense.
« 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲. »
Jayson Tatum texted Kobe Bryant before Game 7 🐍 @jaytatum0 pic.twitter.com/Undug3WsB9
— ESPN (@espn) May 30, 2022
Jayson Tatum grew up with his mom in Missouri idolizing the Black Mamba. One day when he was watching a Lakers game alongside his mom, he said to her: “I want to be Kobe”. His mother answers him: “You mean that you want to be an NBA player later? – No I want to be Kobe”. Little Tatum played basketball whenever he had free time, and wasn’t too bad for a kid.
At 13, his mother calls Drew Hanlen, a personal trainer, and asks if it is possible for him to do a session with his son. Drew’s clientele is NBA and NCAA players, not kids who don’t yet know Thales’ theorem. Except that in his clientele, there is a friend of the Tatum family: Bradley Beal, also from St. Louis like JT. The Florida Gators freshman at the time pushes his coach to accept the proposal by telling him that he is sure that his brother Jayson will become a great player later. Drew accepts, and at the first session, he makes her see all the colors. Jayson Tatum is not shy about the task and tells him that he would rather pass out on the field than give up. The puberty college-aged Tatum has the Mamba Mentality embedded in him, and his coach sees that very well. The following workouts will be lighter. For a week, the two men spend the entire seven training sessions dissecting Kobe’s jab step. Without drive or shoot afterwards. Nothing. That the move to dissect and learn for hours until it is fluid, perfect, that JT does it naturally.
My man @jaytatum0 & I have been studying & stealing from @kobebryant since he was 13… Today, we got to work with him! #puresweatfam #details pic.twitter.com/ofK0tdDUfF
– Drew Hanlen (@DrewHanlen) July 27, 2018
After that, Jayson Tatum moved to Duke for a college year before being drafted by the Celtics in 2017. Since then, he’s become close with Kobe. After his end of the rookie season due to an elimination in the Conference Finals by the Cavs, the Mamba and the Tatum camp organized a workout together. On the program: a one-on-one game, Kobe facing Jayson. Only that. All framed by Drew Hanlen, the personal coach of the Celtics winger. The former Duke will later say with hindsight that it was for him one of the best days of his life.
“I’m here in this room training with you [Kobe] because you inspired me without even knowing it. After the birth of my son, it is the most beautiful day of my life… I will never forget this day. »
– Jayson Tatum on the JJ Redick Podcast
Jayson Tatum has loved Kobe Bryant since he was a kid. Today, the Celtics star has a tattoo of his Lakers jersey on his leg, and wears like the Black Mamba in his time number 10 with Team USA. Despite the pain he must feel, JT continues to pay tribute to him, especially on his social networks where Kobe is present on each of his profile photos. Tomorrow, Tatum has an appointment with the NBA Finals, the biggest deadline of his career so far, and we strongly believe that he will bring out the purple armband for the occasion.
Source texte : SLAM N°218, ESPNThe Old Man & The Three
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