Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is one of the most influential players in the history of the NBA. Many of the top players in the league today have spoken about how much they idolized Bryant growing up and some even had the chance to workout and build a relationship with the icon. One of those was Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who has spoken many times about the impact Bryant had on his career.
Tatum grew up in St. Louis so he wasn’t even in an area where Bryant played, but his star power was felt everywhere. And Tatum spoke about just how much the Lakers icon meant to his life and career.
“It was special,” Tatum said in an episode of Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin. “For me, I always say the biggest act that we can demonstrate is to inspire someone. And for me, I grew up in St. Louis in a single-parent household and Kobe Bryant was always my favorite player. I remember gravitating towards him. His interviews, his workouts, the way he played. I admired everything about him and that was special because somebody that played in Los Angeles and a kid from St. Louis 2,000 miles away, he inspired me to chase my dream without ever even knowing who I was.
“And that was very powerful to me because I chased it. Fast forward to when I was a rookie, I developed a relationship with him. Conversations over the phone, I went to his office and met with him, we worked out together. And that was just a full-circle moment in my mind because I was sitting across from him and I couldn’t put into words how much you meant to my life and my career, that now I get to really get to know you. That was really impactful and powerful to me.”
As Tatum said, he was 2,000 miles away as a kid in St. Louis, but everything about Bryant just resonated with him and it ultimately got him to where he is today, a multi-time All-Star and All-NBA selection, not to mention an NBA Champion.
Even though Tatum plays for the hated Celtics, it didn’t stop he and Bryant from developing a relationship and is just more proof at how special Bryant was.
Arn Tellem recalls orchestrating Kobe Bryant to the Lakers in the 1996 NBA Draft
Getting Bryant to the Lakers back in 1996 was no easy task and his agent at the time, Arn Tellem, recalled how he and Jerry West made that happen.
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