Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum joined the Point Forward podcast with Andre Igoudala and Evan Turner and discussed the one piece of advice he’s received that has stuck with him in his NBA career.
It should come as no surprise that it was from his idol, Kobe Bryant, who asked a question at a basketball camp that Tatum attended when he was young.
“Growing up, I remember Kobe spoke at a camp one time, and he asked the kids, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’” Tatum
explained. “And he asked the kids, ‘What’s your second option?’”
“He gave them a funny look and said, ‘I never had a plan B.'” “I was always told to put my eggs in different baskets.” Tatum went on. “He was like, ‘Why wouldn’t I devote all of my time, energy, and effort to what I’m trying to accomplish?'” And that really struck a chord with me.”
Tatum’s relationship with Bryant prior to his passing was well-chronicled. He had worked out with Bryant in the offseason and was known to pick his brain on the game and how to get better as his career progressed.
“He was my all-time favourite player.” That’s what I aspired to be. So there was never a plan B in my thoughts. People still say things like, ‘What would you do?’ And it’s as if nothing happened. “Like 50 Cent said, ‘Get rich or die trying.'” “Like the league or die trying.”
Tatum has clearly made the most of his opportunities thus far. As he reaches the prime of his career with the Celtics, he has emerged as one of the top players in the NBA.
Tatum is averaging 27.6 points per game on 49.9% shooting from the field thus far in 2023. He is also on pace for a career-high 8.9 rebounds per game, in addition to 4.2 assists .
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