Starting the finals with a huge home win, the Celtics can finally breathe a sigh of relief, at least till the next game. But the mood in the locker room was not this calm before tip-off. Because of a long nine-day break between their Conference Finals victory and tonight’s game, Boston’s side had to deal with a lot of pressure and anxiety waiting for game day to arrive. And Jayson Tatum who admitted to dealing with the same issue, calmed his nerves by seeking solace in his old friend and idol Kobe Bryant.

Going through an emotional turmoil before the game, Tatum made an honest confession during the post-game presser, “I ain’t gonna lie. I was nervous in like an anxious way.” Having been to the finals once before two years ago, Tatum knew that it was a surreal feeling and that opportunities like this didn’t come by too often. “Last year was like a wake-up call when we didn’t make it. So, getting back to this point

and being here is really a big deal.”

And amid that anticipation, JT was very nervous before heading on the court. However, what seemed to calm him down was his subtle tribute to Kobe Bryant. Donning a white Celtics shirt, very similar to the one Kobe wore during his tryout for the Celtics before he got drafted in 1996, Tatum channeled his inner Mamba Mentality to help him get ready for the big moment.

While most Boston fans and players don’t have much of a liking for anything Lakers-related because of their historic rivalry, Tatum has never shied away from expressing his love and admiration for Kobe. “Kobe Bryant was the reason I started playing basketball. He always was and will be my favorite player of all time.” He said during his rookie season. And tonight, he once again resorted to his idol’s guidance.

The way Tatum played tonight, it was evident how much of an inspiration the Black Mamba is to him. They were dominating Dallas right from the tip-off, not giving them a chance to catch a breath. The intensity was regulated by the Boston side, so much so that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were always trailing by 20 points. In quarter 4, we saw a disappointing Mavericks team, with the starting lineup all sitting it out, watching the turmoil from the sidelines.

The posterizing shots and the multiple efficient blocks by not just Tatum but his entire team were phenomenal, leaving the fans excited throughout.

Yes, Tatum was happy to open the series with a win tonight. But already having been in a similar situation two years ago when his team won the first game against the Warriors, Tatum understood that the job was far from over. “We still have a lot of work to do,” he claimed. And again, like his tribute to Kobe, JT’s mentality seemed very reminiscent of the time when Black Mamba shut down a reporter with his response fifteen years ago.

During the 2009 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant and his Lakers won the first two games against the Magic and gained a commanding lead. But Kobe’s demeanor during the postgame presser left everyone confused. And when a reporter asked him why he didn’t seem happy, Kobe uttered the now-iconic quote, “What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished. Job finished? I don’t think so.”

Then, the Lakers would go on to win the series in five games and Kobe won his fifth title. And even Tatum doesn’t want to celebrate too early like his idol and stay focused on his goal of winning his first ring.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow in what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.