NBA Imagines

Jayson Tatum

Michayla

The arena was alive with cheers and boos. Jayson had hit the game-winning shot against the 76ers in their first Summer League game. I clapped along with the crowd, proud of my best friend.

I watched as he ran back to the huddle, the whole team cheering him on. It made me happy. My best friend was living his dream, although it was only summer league.

I watched him happily, his hard work was paying off. 1st round, drafted 3rd overall. Once he was on the court, the negativity washed away.

That's what I loved about him, he didn't let the critics get to his head. They had a lot to say too, "He's just a glorified Melo or Paul Pierce".

No he was his own person, and he was going to prove each critic of that. He wasn't in the media much, just a quiet, laid back kind of guy.

Most of the time he was either in the gym, or at my house.

We spent so much time together, and we were trying to make the most of it. He was now an NBA player and he wouldn't be around much. I lived in North Carolina and he would now be in Boston.

He flew me out for his games this summer. And after the summer league we were gonna spend all summer together.

Then in August I would be back in Durham at school, and he had training camp.

I watched as he was getting interviewed by an NBATV reporter. He looked so happy. As his teammates would pass by they'd hit his head, throw water on him to 'cool him down' and all that type of stuff.

His face was on the Jumbotron as the interview went on,

"That was some shot back there Jayson, take us through that last play" Doris Burke said.

"Uhh, I just looked at the clock and saw how much time I was working with. We didn't need the three so I just dribbled the ball down. My defender lagged off a bit so I just pulled up from the midrange." Jayson responded.

"Well that turned out to be the right thing. Congrats Jayson on a fantastic game. Ladies and gentlemen you're gonna need to learn the name pretty soon, Jayson Tatum" she said.

"Thank you Doris" he said as he walked away. I watched as he went towards the locker room with a towel around his neck.

Walking down to the court, I saw there were actually a lot of people still here. I guess there was another game after Jaysons.

I stood outside of the locker room on my phone as players and coaches piled in and out of the room. After a while I started to get annoyed with how long Jayson was taking.

I decided to just text him.

Me: Jayson if you don't bring yo hi yella ass out here
Me: I'm hungry

I waited for him to text back. Again, more players walked out, but none were Jayson.

Me: JAYSON
Me: CHRISTOPER
Me: TATUM

I swear this always happened. Jayson always took forever to get ready.

He was the opposite of the stereotype that girls took forever to get ready. Jayson took that to a whole other level.

Whenever we had plans to out somewhere, I'd make it a point that he start getting ready at least two hours in advance. And that didn't include his shower.

This man took 10 hours showers.

After a while, his highness finally emerged from the shadows.

"Yo, why you blowing my phone up" he asked.