Jayson Tatum shares his Kobe Bryant regret after legend’s death

It’s been four years since Kobe Bryant’s death on Jan. 26, 2020, and those around the NBA still look back fondly on the Lakers legend. Of course, that includes Jayson Tatum as he’s been extremely vocal about Bryant being his favorite player growing up and what his career meant to the current Celtics star.

Tatum and Bryant were also developing a friendship in real time. Bryant broke down Tatum’s game on ESPN’s “Detail” series, and Tatum has talked about how much that meant to him. In an interview with Andscape’s Marc Spears, Tatum broke down why he wishes he reached out to Bryant more before his death.

“It is bittersweet. I can’t believe that he’s not here anymore. And the thing that I regret is I wish I would’ve called him more. I wish I would’ve texted him more,” Tatum told Andscape’s Spears in an interview. “I just always thought he was so busy. I never wanted to bother him. We knew each other. He told me to text him, call him anytime.

BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS

CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158

STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org.

“But I was almost scared. I can only imagine all the things he has going on. I don’t want to bother him. And obviously after what happened, I wish I would’ve reached out more. I had so many questions I wanted to know the answers to. I should have called him more and it taught me a lesson.”

Tatum, who usually wears a No. 0 armband while playing, occasionally dons a purple-and-gold No. 24 armband whenever he plays against the Lakers or other occasions. He showed it off in the Celtics vs. Lakers Christmas Day game this season. Tatum also posted on social media that he sent Bryant’s number a text before the C’s advanced to the 2022 NBA Finals over the Heat.

Now, Tatum has developed into one of the league’s best players. He earned his fifth career All-Star nod as he was again named a starter for the showcase game. Tatum is also coming off back-to-back seasons being named first-team All-NBA as his stardom has reached new heights over the past few years. He also doesn’t hesitate to reach out to other stars, like the Lakers’ LeBron James.

“Now I don’t hold back with older guys in the league now, like ‘Bron,” Tatum said. “‘Bron is somebody that I text and call a lot, and it could be from basketball to how to take care of your body to business decisions off the court. People are willing to give you answers, you just have to ask.”