Jayson Tatum was asked by Arash Markazi about the significance of wearing number 10 with Team USA, just like his idol Kobe Bryant. Tatum noted that he was beyond honored to wear the same number as Kobe. He also added how much of an influence Bryant has been on him, something he has not been secretive about, and he doesn’t take the responsibility of the number lightly.
“Nothing short of an honor to be able to represent this uniform and wear number 10. To anybody that remotely knows me knows how much influence that he (Kobe) had on me as a kid and inspired me to reach my goals. It’s definitely something I don’t take for granted or take lightly.”
Jayson Tatum talks to me about the significance of wearing the same No. 10 for Team USA that Kobe Bryant wore. pic.twitter.com/X7jICGzobF
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 8, 2024
Tatum is well-known for his love and admiration of Kobe Bryant. Tatum has spoken about the influence Kobe Bryant has had on him on numerous occasions. So for Tatum to be able to wear the same number he did on Team USA must be a really proud moment for him.
Tatum accomplished his biggest dream last month when he and the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship. In his celebration, he tried recapturing several iconic celebrations from past NBA stars, including Kobe Bryant but was ruthlessly mocked by fans for it.
Paul George Also Pays Tribute To Kobe Bryant
Jayson Tatum is not the only player in the NBA using their jersey number to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant. Paul George explained why he chose number 8 for his jersey on the 76ers. He noted that he wanted to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant and wear his jersey number while playing in Bryant’s hometown of Philadelphia.
“C’mon man, I’m in Philly, my idol, the ‘Bean’ Kobe Bryant, my way of idolizing Kobe, and something that meant something outside of 24 and 13,” George said. “It was only right… I like the eight, the eight looks good on me.”
George and Tatum are far from the only players who idolized Kobe Bryant growing up. Bryant was an icon of the game and played a mentor role for so many players in the league. Recently, Anthony Davis spoke about how Kobe Bryant taught him a lot while both were in the league together.
Bryant has earned a lot of respect from players across generations. His time in the league was incredibly successful, and he was part of arguably the most dominant dynasty in history with the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s.
Kobe, along with Shaquille O’Neal, led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships during their stint together. Last month, Shaquille O’Neal claimed that Kobe Bryant was the better player between the two, even though Shaq won Finals MVP in all three of their championship wins.
Even though it has been four years since his passing, several figures in the NBA continuously pay tribute to Bryant on a regular basis. He was a mercurial talent who inspired a whole generation of players. He may no longer be with us, Bryant’s legacy will never be forgotten, and lives on to this day through all the players who pay tribute to him.
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