Speaking on the TNT post-game show, Celtics star Jayson Tatum revealed how far his admiration for Kobe Bryant really goes. According to Tatum, Kobe is the GOAT in his mind based on his impact on the sport and the inspiration he inspired for millions around the world.
“For me, it's an inspirational thing. The way he inspired people, the way he inspired somebody else 2000 miles away,” said Tatum. “Just watching him on TV, watching his interviews, watching how hard he worked, the ups and downs of his career… me seeing myself in him.”
It should be noted that Tatum did not name Bryant as the objective GOAT, rather he singled him out as the player who meant the most to him growing up. Even so, Bryant’s place in the NBA GOAT conversation is still highly debatable and Tatum’s latest statement has a lot of people buzzing.
While No. 0 may don the Celtics green, he’s always been a Lakers guy at heart and his fandom of Bryant is proof of that.
But whether you love or hate the Lakers legend, there are certainly worse players for Tatum to model his game after. Kobe, a 20-year NBA veteran is widely considered one of the top 10 greatest players ever — and for good reason.
Renowned for his scoring and a relentless competitive edge, Bryant’s career was truly special as a 5x champion, 18x All-Star, and 15x All-NBA player. For many, it’s still not enough to give him the edge over Michael Jordan or LeBron James all-time — but Bryant’s legendary “mamba mentality” is a code that many athletes live by to this day and continues to set the example for players looking for a path to success.
Jayson is obviously a big fan of Kobe and it’s easy to see many of Bryant’s attributes in his own game today. The only thing missing from Tatum’s resume is a championship, which is the only thing that separates him from true NBA legendary status.
Can Jayson Tatum Live Up To Kobe Bryant’s Legend?
At 26 years old, Jayson Tatum is already falling behind Kobe Bryant’s timeline. By this point, Kobe was already a 3x champion and had cemented himself as one of the top five players in the game.
In Boston, Tatum is still trying to prove himself after multiple failed playoff runs. Whether it’s with Kyrie Irving or Jaylen Brown, Jayson hasn’t been able to lead the Celtics to a Finals victory despite coming so close multiple times.
With averages of 27.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, Tatum is certainly stuffing the stat sheet this season but unless he can deliver when it matters most, there will always be doubts about his status as one of the best on the world.
The good news is, with a revamped roster and the best record in the league by far, the pieces are falling into place for the Celtics to finally achieve their destiny. And for Tatum, ultimate victory here means he can finally start down the path of becoming the star he always dreamt he could be.
This April will be his moment to shine, and it will be a chance to show everyone just how much he’s learned from the Lakers legend.
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