‘Jayson Tatum didn’t like Boston Celtics’: All Star forward says he hated his current team due to Lakers legend Kobe Bryant

Celtics’ forward Jayson Tatum wanted to play for the Lakers but is grateful about the way things turned out

Jayson Tatum started his fourth season in the NBA tonight. This offseason was a very productive one for him. After being knocked out of the ECF by Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, the Celtics made a few moves to improve on their current roster.

One of them was to extend Jayson Tatum’s rookie deal. Tatum signed a 5-year, $195 million extension deal with the Celtics.

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Tatum was drafted at the 3rd position by the Celtics, but that was not the outcome he had hoped for when he went for the draft. Jayson grew up watching Kobe, and really wanted to emulate the things for the Lakeshow like Kobe did, but things didn’t turn out that way.

Jayson Tatum wanted to play for the Lakers, because of Kobe Bryant

Growing up, Tatum’s idol was Kobe Bryant, and since he was a Laker, Tatum grew up hating on the Celtics. When the Lakers took Lonzo Ball as their #2 pick, and he was drafted by the Celtics at #3, Tatum was a bit disappointed.

“My favorite player and my idol was Kobe and everybody knows that. So, I didn’t like the Celtics at all going up there. I only grew up, I was like, I’m gonna play for the Lakers. Honestly, I never knew what Boston was at. Like I knew only East Coast. But, I’d never been there, I never thought about going there. So, when I got drafted, it was kind of crazy. Like, I used to hate Celtics, and now, it worked out. Everything happen for a reason and I’m surely thankful to be here with this opportunity.”

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Lakers vs Celtics is the biggest rivalry in the NBA. They each have 17 titles.

However, Jayson Tatum is grateful for the way things ended up. The player development in Boston has turned Tatum into a remarkable player, and his future seems very bright. The 22-year old proved the same as he hit the game-winning three over the Bucks tonight.