Skip to main content
Inside The Celtics

Jayson Tatum Shares Former Celtics' Forward's Influence on Him: 'Reason I Went to Duke'

Jayson Tatum briefly got to team up on the Celtics with one of the most highly touted prospects this century and the player who made him want to be a Blue Devil.
Bobby Krivitsky|
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Boston CelticsDuke Blue Devils

The Boston Celtics knocked off the Toronto Raptors on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena, earning a 105-96 win to complete a sweep of the two's regular season series for the second straight year. The victory improves their NBA-leading record to 31-9.

Jayson Tatum generated 19 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block in the contest. Afterward, he shouted out a former Celtic and fellow Duke Blue Devil, Jabari Parker.

The reason? The former second overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks, who teamed with Tatum in Boston in 22 games across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, is now playing for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague, where he buried a game-winning three over the weekend.

Parker also threw down this posterizing jam.

But before injuries took from his promising career, the Chicago native was one of the most highly touted prospects of the 2000s. He continued showcasing that in his lone season as a Blue Devil.

That version of Parker made an impact on Tatum, who shared the former was "The reason I went to Duke. I wanted to be like him. So, I've got a lot of love for him and happy he's playing well."

Further Reading

Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'

Ime Udoka Assesses Tatum and Brown's Growth Since Coaching Them: 'A Lot of Potential That I Haven't Tapped Into'

Ime Udoka Shares How He Felt After Celtics Suspended Him: 'We've Talked It Out'

Marcus Smart in Danger of Missing Return to Boston

Jrue Holiday Responds to Celtics Saying He's Sacrificing Most: 'Not Mad at My Situation'

Driven by Championship Pursuit, Jayson Tatum Unfazed by Sacrifice, Less Fanfare: 'Don't Look for That Praise'

Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So

Derrick White Opens Up About Journey from Uncertainty He Belonged in the NBA to an All-Star Caliber Guard

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

Share on XFollow @BobbyKrivitsky
Home/News