The enduring rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics is well-known, making it surprising that Boston star Jayson Tatum recently expressed his long-standing desire to play for the Lakers. Growing up a devout admirer of the late Kobe Bryant, Tatum dreamed of wearing the iconic purple and gold uniform.
In a conversation on the Club 520 Podcast with Jeff Teague, Tatum shared that he had hoped to be selected by the Lakers before ultimately joining the Celtics. He recounted how the Lakers held the No. 2 pick that year and how he wished he would be their choice.
“I grew up a Kobe fan. I always wanted to play for the Lakers. For them to have the No. 2 pick, it wasn’t even thought that I was going to get drafted. That was kinda devastating. So, I never worked out for the Lakers. They never came to watch me work out,” Tatum revealed.
“I remember Coach K was like, ‘Boston wants you for a second workout; you should go.’ I’m like, ‘They just came off the Eastern Conference Finals,’” he added.
Jayson Tatum Shares His Adoration For The Celtics And The City Of Boston
“I was drafted in 2017. My son was born [in Boston]. I bought my first car here. For me, I admire and love the relationships I’ve built within the organization. All the coaches I’ve had, the front office, security guards, trainers, chefs, the fans, the people who work at the Garden, the ball boys who do our laundry,” Tatum mentioned.
Things have turned out favorably for Tatum in Boston. While the Lakers have been striving to regain their status at the top of the league, Tatum and the Celtics recently eclipsed them by securing their 18th championship last season, giving Boston the slight advantage in their historical rivalry.
Image Source: Jayson Tatum @ Instagram
