Jayson Tatum's Connection to Paul George Goes Back Even Further Than You Think image
Jayson Tatum's Connection to Paul George Goes Back Even Further Than You Think image
Jayson Tatum might have manifested becoming Paul George's teammate a while ago.
Not in the offseason before the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown for George, but when he was a 17-year-old high school prospect.
On Dec. 12, 2015, Tatum posted a highlight reel on Instagram with a simple caption.
"Baby PG!" Tatum wrote, referencing Paul George's initials.
Almost 11 years later, Tatum and George are teammates on the Celtics, hoping to win a championship together.
The connection between Tatum and George goes deeper than that old Instagram post.
Tatum has long admired George's game, to the point that he studied him growing up.
"PG was somebody that I studied a lot, and now to be his teammate, never crossed my mind," Tatum said. "I knew I'd play against him, but I didn't know I'd ever be his teammate."
Tatum wore George's first signature Nike shoe, the PG 1, during his lone season at Duke. He also remembers their first interaction in the NBA.
"November 2017. Russ, Melo, PG was all on the same team. You know, the veteran players, they walk around and dap you up. PG was like, 'What's up, young fella? Welcome to the league.' I remember I was hype."
As for George's response when he was made aware of Tatum's decade-old post?
"That's funny. I guess I'm old."
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