Jayson Tatum was lately on the Membership 520 Podcast (set to air tomorrow) hosted by former Celtics teammate and good friend Jeff Teague.
On the episode, Tatum advised his story in regards to the draft course of, the Celtics initially telling him he wouldn’t get picked, how he needed to be a Los Angeles Laker, and his uncertainty of the place he was going to finish up.
Tatum begins out by speaking about how there have been two consensus high picks that have been going to be taken forward of him. “It was consensus that Markel [Fultz] was going #1, and when the Lakers received the 2nd decide it was Lonzo [Ball] going #2, so it was by no means a thought in my thoughts, like everybody had their thoughts made up.”
He then talked about his first exercise with the Celtics and the way somebody within the entrance workplace from Boston advised him they won’t decide him.
They advised Tatum, “it was among the best exercises I’ve seen, good luck in your profession, however we received the number one decide so we’re in all probability not gonna decide you.”
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Photograph by Chris Marion/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Tatum was upset with the Celtics response however that wasn’t the group he actually needed to play for. His childhood dream was to all the time play for the Lakers. Nevertheless, even with the #2 decide, Tatum knew they weren’t going to take him.
“I grew up a Kobe fan so I all the time needed to play for the Lakers. So, for them to have the #2 decide, and it wasn’t even a thought I used to be gonna get drafted, that was kinda devastating.” Tatum continued, “I by no means labored out for the Lakers. They by no means got here to look at me exercise.”
When the hosts introduced up the Lakers story once more later within the podcast, they have been stunned about how locked of their resolution was about taking Lonzo Ball 2nd total.
Tatum responded with, “I used to be sick, too. I used to be so near my dream and I would play for the Lakers. It was greatest case state of affairs. They’re thoughts was made up and so they didn’t need to come and watch me exercise or have me are available in.”
On June nineteenth, 2017, three days earlier than the draft, Celtics GM Danny Ainge would commerce the first total decide to the Philadelphia 76ers for the third total decide and one other future decide.
When the Celtics made the deal, Tatum already had his thoughts set that he was going to the Phoenix Suns. “I needed to go to Phoenix. Phoenix had the 4th decide. Earl Watson was the coach. I went on the market. I used to be homes. The climate was good. They’d a younger group. I used to be like, ‘I’m gonna get to play.’”
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Photograph by Chris Marion/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Three days earlier than the draft, Coach Okay advised Tatum that the Celtics needed to see a second exercise from him, however Tatum didn’t actually need to do it. He advised Coach Okay, “Coach, they only got here off of an Jap Convention Finals and so they received a veteran group. Like, I’m in all probability not gonna play. I don’t need to go.” Coach Okay would then begin to discuss how nice of a coach Brad Stevens was and that satisfied Tatum to attend the exercise.
Even with the second exercise with the Celtics, Tatum didn’t know the place he was going to get drafted. “I didn’t know the place I used to be getting drafted till they known as my title and the remaining is historical past, and all of it labored out.”
Jayson Tatum can be picked third total by the Boston Celtics and make the All-Rookie group for the 2017-18 season. Alongside sophomore Jaylen Brown, Tatum would lead the Celtics to an Jap Convention Finals run topped off by dunking on LeBron James on the top of his powers.
Going into his eighth season with the Celtics, Tatum would stack up a formidable resume, turning into a five-time All Star, four-time All-NBA choice, Jap Convention Finals MVP, All Star Sport MVP, and at last, NBA champion.
It’s loopy to suppose that if the Lakers weren’t so locked in on their resolution or if the Celtics didn’t commerce for the third decide, Jayson Tatum might be discovering success for an additional NBA franchise and the Celtics may not have a future.
The total episode with Tatum premieres tomorrow at 12pm ET on the Membership 520 YouTube channel.
