After wrapping up a tremendous rookie season, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum recently had the opportunity to train with his idol—Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant—along with skills coach Drew Hanlen.
Jayson Tatum is learning that Mamba Mentality 🐍 (Via @jaytatum0) pic.twitter.com/cnbRa1xdbM
Looks like Jayson Tatum has picked a new workout partner. His name is Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/L5NJslj3Gy
My man @jaytatum0 & I have been studying & stealing from @kobebryant since he was 13... Today, we got to work with him! #puresweatfam #details pic.twitter.com/ofK0tdDUfF
The Lakers, who had the No. 2 pick in the 2017 Draft (and used it to select Lonzo Ball), had a chance at picking Tatum (who went No. 3 to Boston). Tatum patterned his game after Kobe, as Hanlen recently illustrated with a video.
My man @jaytatum0 is a bucket because he studies film & has spent YEARS perfecting his craft. Stole a lot of his best stuff straight from his idol @kobebryant #puresweatfam pic.twitter.com/woNmY9ou82
After seeing that video, Kobe was left wondering why his former team passed on Tatum, as Hanlen relayed in an interview with FOX Sports.
"We actually showed Kobe (the video) yesterday, and he was like, 'Why didn't the Lakers draft him?'" Hanlen shared. "Which was pretty funny after seeing that. Jayson idolized Kobe."
.@DrewHanlen discussed how @jaytatum0 was so influenced by @kobebryant that it impressed Kobe himself 🙌🙌
-- via The Sidelines with @EvanDaniels pic.twitter.com/ZJRO9BSbzJ
Tatum averaged 13.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as a rookie. Perhaps most impressively, he knocked down 43.4 percent of his three-point attempts.
