8 NBA players who will remind you of Kobe Bryant this season

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers share a laugh during their game at Staples Center on January 13, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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7. Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

On the eve of this season, Jayson Tatum was the subject of an ESPN analysis piece that essentially said the Celtics’ forward was trying too hard to be like Kobe — and not exactly succeeding at the task.

Following a rookie season in which the No. 3 pick in the 2017 NBA draft led the Celtics in scoring during their run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum was projected to establish himself among the league’s elite in Year 2. He trained with Kobe that offseason.

While Tatum’s scoring numbers improved slightly, his shooting percentages were down across the board. His output in the 2019 playoffs was as forgettable as Boston’s quiet second-round exit.

Going into Year 3, the book on Tatum was that he’d taken the worst parts of Kobe’s game and made them his own. Namely, a penchant for unnecessarily tough and low-efficiency mid-range jump shots.

Tatum didn’t hold Kobe responsible for any real or perceived regression in his game. He continued to praise his childhood idol, and to this day Tatum displays shades of Kobe on the court.

Tatum is a smooth, 6’8″ wing who can score inside, outside and in-between.

At just 21 years old, he has already shown he can thrive on the big stage of the playoffs. He has the tools to become the No. 1 option on a good team, but for now he can operate comfortably as a very good No. 2 option thanks to Boston’s veteran All-Star point guard Kemba Walker.

This season, Tatum is averaging 21.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and he’s been chosen to make his All-Star Game debut.

Just like Kobe was seamlessly able to step up in big moments when he held No. 2 status behind Shaquille O’Neal in L.A., Tatum can step it up when the lights are on and become the Celtics’ go-to guy.