Inspiration is never far away in the NBA. For both the league’s fans and its players, inspiration is omnipresent. A Boston Celtics All-Star was seen recently in good spirits as he arrived in Phoenix. He walked in with a jacket that had the photo of both Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. It is likely that he might have been channelizing the energy of these two legendary players.

However, Jayson Tatum’s tribute to both Kobe and Jordan was ripped apart by NBA fans. One user wrote, “So he didn’t learn from wearing the Kobe armband and getting molly-whopped in the finals“. Others chimed in stating his famous accessory did not come in handy during an extremely crucial game.

Here are some reactions from NBA Twitter:

Jayson Tatum has always been a fan of both players. He has never shied away from stating that Kobe Bryant was his “idol” and “inspiration”.

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Tatum has tried to emulate the ‘Black Mamba’ many times. When the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, he sported a purple armband, that had “24” written on it. He tipped his hat to Kobe during his practice sessions also. Jayson Tatum dressed exactly as Kobe Bryant did before his draft workout with the Celtics.

Tatum has always been inspired by Kobe Bryant

He credited his performance on the night against the Heat in Game 7 of the Conference Finals to the armband. “Just to have something to show him in the biggest game of my career so far. It worked out“, Tatum said. Jayson Tatum admitted that he had watched a lot of Kobe Bryant’s tape before the game and was convinced he had to honor him.

Unfortunately, for Tatum, the armband did not extend and secure a championship victory for the Celtics. The three-time All-Star spoke with reporters after losing in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors. “Getting to the championship and losing was the worst feeling ever,” Tatum added.

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However, this time around, the Celtics star is seeking inspiration from two major powerhouses of talent: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Notably, Tatum signed with the Jordan brand in 2019, quickly catapulting him as one of the best players in the league.

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Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics are currently playing against the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics are currently top of the Eastern Conference table with a 20-5 record so far.

Will the jacket bring him luck? Do you think the Celtics will make it to the NBA Finals again this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.