Jayson Tatum tells draft story on Club 520 podcast

Jayson Tatum was not too long ago on the Membership 520 Podcast (set to air tomorrow) hosted by former Celtics teammate and buddy Jeff Teague.

On the episode, Tatum advised his story concerning the draft course of, the Celtics initially telling him he wouldn’t get picked, how he wished 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 prime picks that had been going to be taken forward of him. “It was consensus that Markel [Fultz] was going #1, and when the Lakers obtained 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 finest exercises I’ve seen, good luck in your profession, however you realize we obtained the number one decide so we’re in all probability not gonna decide you.”

Photograph by Chris Marion/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Tatum was upset with the Celtics response however that wasn’t the group he actually wished to play for. His childhood dream was to all the time play for the Lakers. Nonetheless, 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 wished 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 observe me exercise.”

When the hosts introduced up the Lakers story once more later within the podcast, they had been stunned about how locked of their choice was about taking Lonzo Ball 2nd general.

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 finest case state of affairs. They’re thoughts was made up they usually didn’t wish 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 general decide to the Philadelphia 76ers for the third general 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 wished to go to Phoenix. Phoenix had the 4th decide. Earl Watson was the coach. I went on the market. I used to be taking a look at homes. The climate was good. They’d a younger group. I used to be like, ‘I’m gonna get to play.’”

Photograph by Chris Marion/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Three days earlier than the draft, Coach Okay advised Tatum that the Celtics wished to see a second exercise from him, however Tatum didn’t actually wish to do it. He advised Coach Okay, “Coach, they only got here off of an Jap Convention Finals they usually obtained a veteran group. Like, I’m in all probability not gonna play. I don’t wish 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 you realize the remainder is historical past, and all of it labored out.”

Jayson Tatum could be picked third general 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, changing into a five-time All Star, four-time All-NBA choice, Jap Convention Finals MVP, All Star Recreation MVP, and at last, NBA champion.

It’s loopy to assume that if the Lakers weren’t so locked in on their choice or if the Celtics didn’t commerce for the third decide, Jayson Tatum might be discovering success for one more NBA franchise and the Celtics won’t have a future.

The total episode with Tatum premieres tomorrow at 12pm ET on the Membership 520 YouTube channel.