Jayson Tatum has cemented himself as a distinguished figure carrying forward the eternal influence of Kobe Bryant. Five years after Bryant’s passing, the “Mamba Mentality” lives on, thanks in no small part to Tatum’s dedication.
Growing up in St. Louis without a hometown NBA team, Tatum became spell-bound by Bryant and the Lakers. By age four, he said:
[I want to be] Kobe.
a dream he clung to even when his mother urged him to aim higher, according to SLAM.
Tatum cried when the Celtics beat the Lakers in the Finals. He rejoiced when Bryant hoisted his fifth championship trophy in 2010.
Tatum studied him, perfecting moves like the turnaround fadeaway and even convincing his mother to splurge on rare Kobe sneakers.
My favorite Kobe shoes were the Kobe 3s. I had on the ‘What The’ Kobe 9s in the state championship game my senior year. Played in Kobe ‘Preludes,’ 5s and 6s, when I was on the EYBL circuit.
Tatum said.
Still thinking about Jayson Tatum's tribute to Kobe Bryant in Starting 5. pic.twitter.com/K0naoqWAiB
— Netflix (@netflix) October 20, 2024
After Bryant broke down Tatum’s game on ESPN’s Detail, the two met for the first time in Newport Beach when Tatum was 20. Nervous but determined, Tatum soaked in every word. Kobe’s advice:
Don’t wait for a perfect situation—make the situation and ‘Be that guy‘
left a lasting mark, according to The Ringer.
Tatum later admitted he regretted not reaching out more, a lesson that inspired him to build bonds with veterans like LeBron James.
Jayson Tatum honors Bryant’s legacy in a way that feels timeless
Jayson Tatum drew inspiration and paid tribute to Kobe Bryant with a 24 armband during Game 7 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/AS1IjjThvq
— NBA (@NBA) May 30, 2022
Today, Jayson Tatum honors Bryant’s legacy in ways that feel both authentic and timeless. He wears No. 10 for Team USA, just like Kobe. A tattoo of No. 24 intertwined with black mamba snakes sits on his body. Before Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, he sent a moving text to Bryant’s old number: “I got you today,” while donning a purple armband with No. 24, according to the USA TODAY NEWS YouTube channel.
In 2023, Tatum fulfilled a personal dream by winning the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award — a historic achievement he had chased since the award’s renaming in 2020.
But the true tribute lies in Tatum’s daily grind. His work ethic forged through early-morning shooting sessions as a kid and a “this or die” attitude toward making the NBA.
Danny Ainge, the executive who drafted him, once said: honoring Kobe means living with the same fire every day.
I knew what Jayson wanted, but I didn’t know to what extent he would go to become great.
Ainge said.
Jayson Tatum is Kobe Bryant’s spiritual heir — inspiring a new generation just as Kobe once inspired him.
READ: As LeBron and Steph’s Era Fades, Tatum and SGA Lead the NBA’s Next Wave of Stars
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
