Boston Celtics fans hoped that Jayson Tatum would convince superstar point guard Kyrie Irving to stay after his contract expired this summer. However, Irving decided to join the Brooklyn Nets, so Tatum used his friendship with Kemba Walker to influence the former Charlotte Hornets guard to come to Boston.
“I’m very excited,” Tatum said. “I think I had a big part with him coming here. I was with him in Paris (Jordan Brand event). I never told him to come, but I told him I would love for him to join the team and told him how it was. Obviously, everybody has to do what’s best for themselves, and I’m happy for him.”
"I never told him to come, but I told him I would love for him to join the team and told him how it was."
Jayson Tatum on Kemba Walker coming to Boston.https://t.co/fIW78Ht9cJ
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) August 2, 2019
Although he didn’t tell Walker directly to come to the Celtics, Tatum spoke about the feeling of playing basketball in a city such as Boston and ran out of superlatives for the organization.
“I just told him about Boston, the city, the atmosphere, our fans, the culture, the coaching staff. I answered all the questions he had,” he said. “I’m excited, and just ready for the season to start and everybody to be around each other and build some chemistry and just get it going.”
On the other hand, Walker has his say on the matter, and he explains why he decided to leave Charlotte after eight years and move to TD Garden.
“We spoke for quite some time,” Walker said. “When we left Paris and the days went on and [free agency] came and I made my decision, a lot of it was because of him. [We talked] about the city, about the fans, the atmosphere, Coach Stevens, some of the players on the team, how things went last year and stuff like that. [But] not once did he say, ‘Come [here].'”
Before they team up in Boston, Tatum and Walker will play together for Team USA at the upcoming FIBA World Cup in China. Celtics teammates, Marcus Smart, and Jaylen Brown, also received invitations to participate in training camp.
“I played [with the] USA three times when I was in high school, and it’s an honor to play for the country and to be along other great players,” Tatum said. “That’s what I’m most excited for, being around other guys and competing in practice and coming together for a greater purpose. I think that’s pretty cool. I know a lot of people dropped out and I feel like everything happens for a reason, so hopefully we all four make it and start some early chemistry for the season.”
The experience will only improve Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum's games further. 💪🍀#CUsRise #Celtics pic.twitter.com/KFy03DI9PQ
— Celtics Nation (@CelticsNationCP) July 24, 2019
