It’s funny how life goes. More often than not, athletes end up playing for teams that they hated growing up, and sometimes they even rooted for their biggest rivals. It happens in the NBA, NFL, MLB, you name it.
That’s why athletes have to be professionals about what they do. They have to put their feelings aside and do what’s best for their career and the organization they represent, regardless of their emotions.
Shockingly, Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum isn’t the exception to that rule. According to a recent interview, he didn’t even know where Boston was at and wanted to play for their archrivals Los Angeles Lakers.
Jayson Tatum Admits He Hated The Celtics And Wanted To Play For The Lakers
“My favorite player and my idol was Kobe (Bryant) 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 happens for a reason and I’m surely thankful to be here with this opportunity,” Tatum confessed.
Introducing @NewEraCap's City Ties; where @jaytatum0 sits down with @QRich to talk all things NBA and the night he was drafted. Tune-in on Wednesday 12/23 at 7:30 pm/et on TNT to watch Jayson Tatum and the Celtics take on the Milwaukee Bucks. newer.ac/NewEraNBACityE…
That shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Tatum admitted to being a diehard Kobe Bryant fan growing up and they even worked out together one summer. Also, he was clearly affected by his idol’s sudden passing.
This wouldn’t be the first time that something like that happens. As a matter of fact, Paul Pierce also grew up a Lakers fan and was born and raised in California. Now, he’s one of the Celtics’ biggest icons and a diehard Boston fan.
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It’s pretty safe to say that Jayson Tatum has now embraced the Celtics’ culture. He recently signed a massive five-year, $195 contract extension with them to continue being the face of the franchise, so it’s unlikely that we’ll ever see him wearing the purple and gold.
