Jayson Tatum recalled his wish to be drafted by the Lakers

Jayson Tatum (Image Credit: Getty Images)

The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics is legendary, making it all the more surprising to hear Boston star Jayson Tatum recently reveal his initial desire to play for the Lakers. Tatum grew up as a fan of the late Kobe Bryant and dreamed of donning the purple and gold jersey.

During his appearance on the Club 520 Podcast with Jeff Teague, Tatum shared how much he had wanted to join the Lakers before he ended up in Boston. The Celtics star recalled that the Lakers had the No. 2 pick that year, and he’d hoped they might choose him.

“I grew up a Kobe fan. I always wanted to play for the Lakers. For them to have the No. 2 pick, it wasn’t even thought that I was going to get drafted. That was kinda devastating. So, I never worked out for the Lakers. They never came to watch me work out,” Tatum said.

“I remember Coach K was like, ‘Boston wants you for a second workout; you should go.’ I’m like, ‘They just came off the Eastern Conference Finals,” he added.

Jayson Tatum Shares His Love For The Celtics And The City Of Boston

Jayson Tatum may have initially dreamed of playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. But his journey with the Celtics has led to a deep appreciation for the team and city. On the Club 520 Podcast, Tatum opened up about the relationships he’s built over the years since his draft.

“I was drafted in 2017. My son was born [in Boston]. I bought my first car here. For me, I admire and love the relationships I’ve built within the organization. All the coaches I’ve had, the front office, security guards, trainers, chefs, the fans, the people who work at the Garden, the ball boys who do our laundry,” Tatum said.

Things have worked out well for Tatum in Boston. While the Lakers have been working to reclaim their dominance in the league, Tatum and the Celtics recently surpassed them by winning their 18th championship last season, giving Boston the edge in their historic rivalry.