Jayson Tatum And Kyrie Irving do not only have in common the fact of having been teammates with the Celtics. They are also among the players who had Kobe Bryant as a mentor.
The late Kobe is thus a reference often mentioned by the Boston winger and the Dallas leader, and this is once again the case a few hours before the start of the NBA Finals. His famous “Mamba Mentality”, the former Lakers back tried to teach it to his students, and Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum did not fail to pay tribute to him.
“I don’t know if anyone here has ever lost a mentor or someone older who was important to them”, asks the Dallas leader. “Even though we didn't talk every day, there was always this bond that meant he was always there for you. It wasn't just him, it was his family too. They supported me unconditionally and I miss him every day, as do the rest of the world and all Kobe fans. »
Kobe Bryant's valuable advice
Even if the “Mamba Mentality” remains a vague concept and difficult to theorize, Kyrie Irving has retained a few precepts, particularly the fact of always remaining yourself.
“Honestly, he always reminded me to enjoy the journey because the journey is the reward. You have to put things into perspective: billions of people will love you, and billions will not love you”adds Kyrie Irving. “As a result, you have to stay true to your positions and accompany the people who support you through the stages. Make them proud and be proud of yourself. »
Jayson Tatum has made the sacrifices necessary to improve and become a champion one day.
“He asked me, ‘What does this mean to you? What does it mean to succeed, to give your best, to maximize the talent God has given you? » says Jayson Tatum. 'How hard are you willing to work?' We have a small window at our 'prime', at our athletic peak to reach the heights. During this time, we have to sacrifice ourselves and family time and birthdays because we have a job to do. We have a responsibility to our profession. »
