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Jayson Tatum Originally Wanted To Play For The Los Angeles Lakers: “I Didn’t Like The Celtics At All”

Initially possessing the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics surprisingly decided to move down in the draft and agreed to swap picks with the Philadelphia 76ers for the third overall pick which turned out to become Jayson Tatum.

The Sixers picked Markelle Fultz who was their obvious pick for the number one at that time. The second overall pick, meanwhile, went to the Lakers — who passed on Tatum and drafted Lonzo Ball instead. Three years later, it’s clear that the best player of the draft went to the Boston Garden.

As it appeared that the Celtics got their guy during the draft, Tatum however, revealed that he didn’t like the Celtics at all and used to hate the team before playing out there. Growing up as a Kobe Bryant fan, Tatum mentioned that he grew up wanting to play for the purple and gold.

“My favorite player and my idol was Kobe and everybody know that. So, I didn’t like the Celtics at all going up there. I only grew up, I was like, I’m gonna play for the Lakers. Honestly, I never knew what Boston was at. Like I knew only East Coast. But, I’d never been there, I never thought about going there. So, when I got drafted, it was kind of crazy. Like, I used to hate Celtics, and now, it worked out. Everything happen for a reason and I’m surely thankful to be here with this opportunity.”

Introducing @NewEraCap's City Ties; where @jaytatum0 sits down with @QRich to talk all things NBA and the night he was drafted.

Tune-in on Wednesday 12/23 at 7:30 pm/et on TNT to watch Jayson Tatum and the Celtics take on the Milwaukee Bucks. https://t.co/IR5ztUcbtp pic.twitter.com/9XbkqCNGp5

— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2020