Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant, and was a Los Angeles Lakers fan as a kid. Now Tatum is poised to become the next big thing in Boston, and it’s his solemn duty to make sure Los Angeles doesn’t see a playoff series victory if they should ever meet the Celtics in the postseason.
That hasn’t kept Tatum from working out with the former Lakers star. During his time with Bryant, Tatum says that he was given some very Kobe-esque advice.
Specifically: shoot the ball.
Via GQ:All the more surreal, then, that he says this in L.A., the day after the Lakers legend generously decided to mentor the young Celtic, a rare one-on-one workout between longtime East-West rivals. And what was Professor Vino’s advice for his new student?
“Shoot every time,” he recalls. “Pass if you have to. But if not, shoot it.”
This of course is extremely bad advice and despite the harping of Lakers fans in distance, there is little evidence to suggest that anyone should pay attention to Kobe Bryant on what would make an efficient basketball player in 2018.
For his part, Tatum has shot the ball more this season. He’s up two attempts per 100 possessions according to Basketball-Reference.com. Tatum is a more effective passer this year, but his 3-point shooting has taken a huge dip and it’s hurt his individual statistics greatly.
A sophomore slump isn’t anything new, but hopefully Tatum sharpens up his offensive game as the year goes on and the playoffs approach.
