Here's another perk of Jayson Tatum's ascent to stardom: He's earning the admiration of the players he once idolized.
On Sunday, it was Lakers superstar LeBron James, who called Tatum an "absolute problem" after the Boston Celtics forward dropped 41 points on Los Angeles.
On Tuesday, it was another 2003 NBA Draft alum in Carmelo Anthony, who swapped jerseys with Tatum after the 21-year-old exploded for 36 points in Boston's 118-106 win in Portland.
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"Oh man, Melo is, besides Kobe (Bryant), probably one of my top three favorite players," Tatum after the jersey swap, via NBC Sports Northwest's Jamie Hudson. "I studied him so much growing up and I’m one of his biggest fans. ... I really looked up to him."
Tatum, who was five years old when Anthony entered the league, spent time with the 10-time All-Star this summer at a Jordan Brand event in Paris.
Anthony was a fan of Tatum then. Needless to say, he's become an even bigger fan after watching the third-year forward morph into an elite player.
"He's like a little brother to me," Anthony said. "I love him. He’s a guy that’s establishing himself, as we’re all witnessing, all watching. I mean, I love his game, I love watching him play.
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"I was able to have some one-on-one time with him, get a chance to know him better as a person first, but his game speaks for itself and it’ll continue to blossom."
The 35-year-old also seemed pleased Tatum held him in such high regard after seeking him out for a jersey swap.
"It makes me kind of appreciate what I do," Anthony said. "For guys to acknowledge that and see that and watch that and want to learn from that, for me, that’s what it’s all about."
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