Jayson Tatum’s incredible journey with the Boston Celtics has redefined his career. However, the star forward recently revealed that he once had his sights set on joining the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2017 NBA Draft.
In a candid interview with the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, Tatum opened up about his disappointment when the Lakers, led by Magic Johnson, decided to pass on him. Tatum admitted that he felt hurt by the lack of genuine interest from the Lakers.
“Yeah, I think I was upset at the time that there wasn’t genuine interest,” Tatum said.
“I grew up the biggest Kobe fan and wanted to play for the Lakers. And Magic explained it: they had too many forwards, and that was their thought process at the time. It wasn’t like I got any animosity toward Magic or the Lakers. It was just as a kid. I was close to accomplishing a lifelong dream, the way I thought it would be,” he added.
Recently, Magic Johnson claimed that Tatum’s agent had prevented him from working out with the Lakers before the draft. However, Tatum’s agent quickly denied the claim.
Kristaps Porzingis Praises Jayson Tatum’s Winning Mentality After Celtics’ Victory
The Boston Celtics dominated the Chicago Bulls with a 123-98 victory on Saturday, and Jayson Tatum played a pivotal role in the win. After the game, Celtics teammate Kristaps Porzingis praised Tatum for his consistent dedication to winning.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
“He’s not a personal record player—he doesn’t do everything just for PR. He actually makes the right play. He doesn’t need to score 50 every night. He’s hungry for winning, and there’s a big difference. A lot of people take him for granted,” Porzingis said.
Tatum led the team in scoring, recording a triple-double with 43 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. The victory pushed the Celtics’ record to 22-6 for the season.
Also Read: Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics: Prediction, Probable Starting Lineups, And Injury Updates
