Jayson Tatum was upset that the Lakers didn’t draft him

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Jayson Tatum and LeBron James greet each other before a game.

Injured NBA superstar Jayson Tatum made an appearance on ESPN’s First Take to discuss his injury rehabilitation, upcoming shoe release, and overall NBA subjects. Tatum had the opportunity to speak in depth for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in the NBA Playoffs. Stephen A. Smith discussed Tatum being drafted third overall in the 2017 NBA Draft and the Philadelphia 76ers not wanting him.

Tatum was the one who reminded everyone that the Los Angeles Lakers had the second choice between 76ers And Boston Celtics. When asked about other teams that passed on him, Tatum said his fandom for Kobe Bryant made him wish the The Lakers drafted him during the interview.

“Kobe was my favorite player, and the Lakers were my favorite team growing up. You are so close to achieving your dream and you see the Lakers have second choice. It hurt me a little, I had the impression that they didn’t want to recruit me.

Tatum would have changed the landscape of a franchise if the 76ers Or Lakers wrote it. Instead, both teams came through and dropped it to the Celtics a roster that seemed much closer to becoming a contender if they landed a franchise player to round out their roster.

Tatum felt disrespected by falling third

The conversation about Tatum’s draft position turned to Stephen A. Smith who asked him about Tatum’s draft position. 76ers. Tatum has made it clear he doesn’t dream of playing for the 76ers so that it is different from Lakers. However, it still felt like a slap in the face to see two teams pass on him after how great he looked as a prospect after playing one season for Duke.

“I wanted to be the number one pick, and I felt like I was the best player, so I was a little upset at first,” Tatum said before expressing that his memory lasted for revenge against Philadelphia. Tatum reminded us that he defeated the 76ers only to eliminate them all three times they faced each other in the playoffs.

History has not been kind to Philadelphia’s decision. THE 76ers traded in the draft Markelle Fultzan all-time draft mistake considering they could have stayed at No. 3 and taken Tatum when Boston was on the way down. With Ben Simmons catch fire and Joel Embiid Dealing with constant health issues, Tatum could have completely changed the course of the franchise.

Kobe Bryant remains Tatum’s mentor

Tatum was one of the lucky few NBA players who received advice directly from Kobe Bryant. For a longtime fan, learning from his idol was a dream come true. Had the Lakers drafted him, Tatum could have become the next cornerstone of their franchise. However, LeBron James“His eventual arrival in Los Angeles could have changed this trajectory.

Tatum stressed, however, that he was grateful for the way things worked out at the best of times. Play for Celtics gave him the chance to represent another historic franchise. If he couldn’t wear the purple and gold, suiting up for their rival and creating his own legacy for a historic franchise was the next best thing with near-perfect results so far.

Joey Haverford Joey Haverford is a seasoned sports content writer with over 12 years of experience. He has covered the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL and professional wrestling in the sports industry. Learn more about Joey Haverford