Celtics star Jayson Tatum guided Boston to the NBA Finals on Sunday night, and earned the inaugural Larry Bird Trophy for Eastern Conference finals MVP in the process.
Tatum was seen sporting a purple “24” armband in honor of his idol, Kobe Bryant, during Game 7 against the Heat.
Tatum forged a bond with Bryant when he entered the league, and the two had worked out together in the offseason over the Celtics star’s first couple of seasons in the NBA.
Bryant was Tatum’s favorite player growing up, and Tatum made sure to text the late Lakers great ahead of Sunday night’s pivotal Game 7 matchup.