53 Jayson Tatum Quotes On Kobe, Confidence, Work Ethic, & Basketball

motivational quotes Jan 10, 2024

Motivational Jayson Tatum quotes:

Jayson Tatum is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA.

From St. Louis, Missouri, Tatum played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before being selected as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.

In his rookie season, Tatum was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting.

Tatum is currently a 4x NBA All-Star and has been named to 2 All-NBA First Teams. Tatum is known as an elite scorer.

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Famous Jayson Tatum Quotes About Kobe Bryant

1. "When I was, like, 4 or 5, I'd just always tell - my mom would ask me what I wanted to be when I got older. And I would just be like, 'I wanna be Kobe.' She'd be like, 'You wanna be in the NBA?' 'No, like, I wanna be Kobe.'"

2. "All I used to want to do was shoot fadeaways like Kobe because he was my favorite player."

3. "Kobe Bryant was the reason I started playing basketball - always was and will be my favorite player of all time. I love the way he could get his shot off, his footwork down in the post, just his determination to be the best player."

4. "I've been watching Kobe ever since I can remember."

5. "Ever since I started playing basketball, I wanted to be just like Kobe. To get to see him play in person, and to meet him, was just a dream come true."

6. "Meeting Kobe, it was one of the greatest feelings ever."

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Basketball Quotes By Jayson Tatum

7. "Just keep having fun. It's basketball. So that's what I'm going to keep doing."

8. "No matter what team you're playing for, the ultimate goal is to be the last team standing."

9. "Everything I have, I'm giving it to this game and my team."

10. "I grew up watching LeBron and asking him to follow me back on Twitter, going to his camps. So just to be able to compete against a player like him and be a few shots away from beating him and his team to go to a championship is something I will always remember."

11. "Obviously, getting stronger is the key, and knowing how to use my body, knowing what to expect."

12. "I love Coach K's passion to coach his players and to coach the game. I examined and watched the interaction between him and his staff, along with the players, and was impressed how hard they played."

13. "I love basketball. I dreamed of this every day when I was a kid."

14. "There's no better way to start your career than by playing probably the best guy in the league."

15. "Man, I'm always going to back up my teammates."

16. "Coach K always wanted me to talk more, even when I was in college. That's something I'm going to do as I get older."

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Jayson Tatum Quotes About His Confidence

17. "When I play bad, I don't get too down on myself. When I play good, I don't get too hot."

18. "Humbly, I'm one of the best basketball players in the world."

19. "I don't really think about it. I just try to find my opportunity and then attack."

20. "If somebody was to ask me who is the best rookie, I would tell them I was."

21. "I'm not afraid of anything."

22. "Talent level, I feel like if I'm not the best, I'm one or two. I think it's just opportunity, the situation that you're in, and who's on your team. I think I've done all right."

23. "You gotta have confidence in yourself first before anybody else will. I've always had that."

24. "Every time I shoot, I think it's going in. I get upset when it doesn't."

25. "It helps being on a good team with a winning culture and just being confident in myself."

Jayson Tatum On Achieving His Dreams

26. "I was fortunate enough to make it to where I want to be. There could be other kids as talented or more talented than me in whatever they want to be but don't have the resources to pursue their dream. Maybe they have to get a job instead to help their mom with the bills."

27. Referring to Kobe saying he never had a plan B. "That resonated so much [with me]...In my mind there was never a plan B."

28. "It's been a dream come true, you know, just making it to the NBA and being drafted by a great franchise like Boston."

29. "Not too many people know what they want to do at 3 and then go do it."

30. "School was very important. But I needed to watch basketball."

31. "I remember placing the New Era cap on my head at the 2017 NBA draft - that moment changed my life. I'm excited to be a part of a brand that has a strong sport heritage and look forward to being a part of their history."

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Top Jayson Tatum Quotes About Winning And Success

32. "At the end of the day, we all want to win, so everybody has to sacrifice when you want to be a part of something special."

33. "There's a lot of talented guys, but at the end of the day, you've got to go out there and get it. It's really about who's competing and who wants it more on both ends of the floor."

34. "You've just got to bring it every night. And that's what makes the great players great."

35. "That's what I am trying to be, just trying to affect the game any way possible, rebounding, getting a block, or trying to get a stop even when your shot isn't falling, because, at the end of the day, all that matters is whether you win or lose."

36. "I just care about winning and doing what I can while I'm on the floor."

37. "Being able to provide for your kids in a way that maybe your parents couldn't do for you is a great feeling."

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Tatum Quotes About Work Ethic

38. "Each person's workout is really different. It's tailored to be what's most needed for them. Everybody's different."

39. "My mom tried to not let me see how much we were struggling, but I noticed it. I think that's what made me work harder. I saw how hard she was working, and I just wanted a better life for both of us."

40. "Obviously understand what's at stake, and keep going. You just have to keep going, keep playing."

41. "Most guys in my position don't get drafted to such a high-caliber team like the Celtics, so it makes me work harder because I have to compete and earn everything."

42. "You work all season to earn the trust of your teammates and the coaching staff."

43. Advice he would give to aspiring professional basketball players: "Be a kid, enjoy that time, but don't ever get complacent."

44. "All good players have to do that, to learn how to get better throughout the season. Just really work on my body. Just try to stay healthy and be stronger. Just try to get bigger."

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