Jayson Tatum made one of his long-term dreams a reality when he worked out with childhood hero Kobe Bryant earlier this month.
After footage circulated over the summer of the similarities between the two players, it only seemed right that Tatum was learning from the man he modelled his game on.
And it was that video which caused Bryant to wonder why the Lakers didn’t spot the former Blue Devil’s raw talent earlier and draft him last year.
That’s the word from Tatum’s trainer Drew Hanlen.
Jayson Tatum working out with the Mamba! pic.twitter.com/7Ekr35IOaD
— Basketball Forever (@Bballforeverfb) July 27, 2018
“We actually showed Kobe [the video] yesterday,” Hanlen told FOX Sports 1.
“He was like, ‘Why didn’t the Lakers draft him?’ 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
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 26, 2018
Kobe could have been at least partially joking here.
But sometimes the best jokes are funny because they’re true.
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