Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum on Monday finally climbed the NBA mountaintop. Fans couldn’t help but joke about Tatum potentially copying an iconic Kobe Bryant photo after winning his first title.
Tatum led his team to a 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The win sealed the Celtics’ 18th championship, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in NBA history.
Several fans on X joked that Tatum wouldn’t be able to resist recreating an iconic Kobe photo from the 2001 NBA Finals. The Laker legend famously posed with the Larry O’Brien trophy while in the showers after his team’s title-clinching Game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
THE CELTICS ARE THE 2024 NBA CHAMPIONS
Jayson Tatum recreating the iconic Kobe pose is inevitable… pic.twitter.com/7MFY44CSR8
— Playmaker (@playmaker) June 18, 2024
it's almost time for the moment Jayson Tatum has waited for his entire life: painstakingly staging and recreating the candid photo of Kobe with the trophy in the locker room
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) June 18, 2024
Tatum running to the locker room to take the Kobe photo after the game pic.twitter.com/kGK2THTsnB
— BrickWrld (@BrickWrld_) June 18, 2024
Jayson Tatum rushing to the locker room to take the Kobe Bryant trophy picture pic.twitter.com/lRDXEBVga9
— John (@iam_johnw) June 18, 2024
Jayson Tatum getting ready to re-create the Kobe pic when he gets to the Celtics locker room pic.twitter.com/mMphxoAEqQ
— Shirt-Ish (@Shirt_Ish) June 18, 2024
Tatum already appeared to copy another memorable championship celebration during his postgame interview. The Celtics star shouted a 3-word message into the mic as he was being interviewed by Lisa Salters. The moment resembled Kevin Garnett’s “anything is possible!” scream after the Celtics won the 2008 title.
“We did it!” Tatum yelled.
Jayson Tatum doing his best KG impression after winning his first ring
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 18, 2024
Tatum finished Game 5 with a game-high 31 points on 11/24 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals.
Tatum’s performance wasn’t enough to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Trophy, which went to his teammate Jaylen Brown. But Tatum had already made peace with potentially not winning the Finals MVP award heading into Game 5.
