Jayson Tatum: Reflection on the Influence of Kobe Bryant
If there’s one name that always brings out the utmost appreciation for many basketball fans, it’s Kobe Bryant. The former Los Angeles Lakers great embodied a certain level of leadership and dedication to the game that resonated with many youngsters, and one of those youngsters, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, credits Kobe for steering him to a life without plan B’s.
During a recent appearance on the “Point Forward” podcast hosted by former NBA players Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner, Tatum discussed how “The Black Mamba” meant the world to him and served as a source of great inspiration.
Tatum spoke on the influence Kobe had on him from a young age, saying, “Kobe was my favorite player growing up, and he still is after he passed away. Everyone kind of looks up to Michael Jordan, and growing up I guess I was that kid like a lot of kids, that were like, ‘I want to be Kobe, the attitude, the approach he had towards the game and the way he carried himself on and off the court. It was kind of my idol and still is just because of the way he approached the game and the way he put so much work into it, and that showed in his results.”
The admiration and respect Tatum had—and still has—for Kobe reached its peak when he was able to work out with the Lakers great in 2018. Tatum described the experience of working out with his idol as “surreal” and “amazing”, noting that Kobe “tried to help” him and made him “understand certain stuff in the game better”.
Kobe also served as a source of guidance for the 21-year-old star, and Tatum is certain that the lessons he learned from Kobe will stay with him for the rest of his life.
“The biggest thing [Kobe] always told me about was no ‘Plan B’s,” Tatum said. “You put all of your focus and energy into what you’re doing and don’t have or create an outlet or a backup plan. Put all your energy into one thing and just stick to it, and don’t get discouraged.”
Tatum has certainly stayed true to Kobe’s advice, as he’s been one of the best players in the league since he was drafted third overall in the 2017 NBA draft. He has established himself as an All-Star and a consistent 20-point scorer, and he’s guided the Celtics to three consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals up to this point.
Tatum’s success has also been a testament to hard work, perseverance and a “no plan B” mindset, something that has always been at the center of the former Lakers great’s approach to the game.
Although Kobe’s life was cut tragically short back in January of 2020, his influence on basketball will certainly live on forever. This is especially true for Tatum, a player that truly embodies the spirit and mentality of Kobe and one that considers him as his biggest inspiration in and out of the game.
Jayson Tatum is proof that Kobe Bryant’s message and influence live on within the game. The 21-year-old Celtics star has built an impressive career on the hard-working, “no plan B” approach that Kobe preached, and he remains as motivated as ever to reach new heights in the NBA while carrying forward the legacy that the Lakers great left behind.
