Ned Dishman/NBAE by diagram of Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum will set on the No. 10 jersey for Team USA on the Summer Olympics, following at some stage in Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant.
“Or now not it is a wonderful honor,” Tatum mentioned of the jersey number, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. “And I will set on it proudly.”
Kobe memorably wore No. 8 and 24 for the Los Angeles Lakers but set on the No. 10 jersey for Team USA. Tatum, who wears No. 0 for the Boston Celtics, is having a gaze to honor the deceased important person.
“With this being the main Olympics since we misplaced him, it holds that diagram more value,” he mentioned. “Or now not it is now not something I pick calmly.”
Bryant performed a key position for USA Basketball, representing the country in the 2008 Olympics as portion of the “redemption crew” after a disappointing bronze medal in 2004. The 2008 squad returned to dominance tiring Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony among others.
Four years later, Kobe became again a key participant as the United States took home a 2d straight gold medal in 2012.
Tatum is having a gaze to copy this success in Tokyo, even supposing his old senior expertise became now not quite as appropriate. The forward became portion of a 2019 FIBA World Cup crew that completed in seventh situation, even supposing he only performed two games thanks to an ankle injure.
The 23-one year-venerable has seen his profession blossom since then with two straight All-Star picks. Tatum completed this previous one year averaging 26.4 aspects, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per sport, all profession highs.
He’s now anticipated to be a key participant for the Americans later this month as he tries to copy the success of his “favourite participant” in Bryant.
