As many superstars, young and old, have attested, Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has an aura about him that cannot be described. This makes established basketball stars act like they are in the presence of a deity, a feeling that Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum can testify to.
In an interview on "7 PM in Brooklyn," the recently-crowned NBA champ opened up about his encounter with Jordan in 2019 when he signed with His Airness' sneaker and apparel line, the Jordan Brand .
A nervous encounter
Tatum, an athletic 6'8" forward from Duke University, didn't take long to establish himself in the Association. After a superb sophomore season in which he averaged 15.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, Jordan Brand didn't hesitate to ink the young man to a multi-year deal.
"This was back in 2019 when we were in Paris. That's when I first got introduced to the brand and first signed with them. We were at an event, and there were a bunch of media members out there. He was on the mic, called me out, and we took a photo together. He announced, 'We just signed Jason Tatum,' and that was crazy," JT told Carmelo Anthony and Kid Mero.
Later that day, the Jordan Brand had dinner, and the native of St. Louis, Missouri, felt like a fish out of water seeing the likes of MJ and Spike Lee at the event. After arriving at the event, Jayson thought it was best just to sit down and stay out of everybody's way. However, his mother urged him to say hello to His Airness.
"I walked in, sat down, and thought, 'They're probably busy. I don't want to interrupt them.' My mom was like, 'Yo, just go say what's up. They invited you out here.' My hands were sweating, my ass was sweating and sh*t," the man known as "Taco Jay" narrated.
"So, I got up and was like, 'Yo, Mike, what up?' As I approached, I accidentally knocked over a wine glass, and it broke. I was like, 'Oh shit.' But he was cool about it. He said, 'Yo, young fella, you're alright. Go sit back down. You're good,'" Tatum recalled.
Tatum's tale, albeit amusing, isn't surprising, as MJ's mesmerizing aura can humble even the most skilled basketball players and young prodigies.
Related: John Stockton says neither Michael Jordan, LeBron James, nor Kobe Bryant are the GOAT: "Well, I wouldn't use those three"
Someone Tatum can rely on for advice
Aside from getting your hands on exclusive merch and sneakers, the biggest perk of being a Jordan Brand athlete is access to the "Greatest of All Time." According to the five-time All-Star, he doesn't hesitate to text or call "Air Jordan" anytime for advice. This resource was useful when JT and the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals in 2022.
"He's someone I can text or call. I remember right before my first time going to the Finals, I called him when we got to San Francisco. I asked, 'What is it like being in the Finals? What should I expect?' We talked for a long time. He texts me after games and checks in. I have his name in my phone as Uncle Mike, so that's my man," Tatum stated.
Although Mike has been retired for over two decades, his presence remains ubiquitous in the world of basketball, especially within the Jordan Brand. As one of their top athletes, Tatum benefits not only from using MJ's iconic shoes on the court but also from his mentorship and support off the court.
Related: "Those are three of the best players ever to play this game, and we're teammates" - Tatum on being on Team USA with KD, Steph, and Bron
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