After securing his first NBA Championship against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum stumbled upon a nostalgic throwback on social media. He discovered a decade-old post where a young Tatum eagerly requested a ‘follow back’ from LeBron James, who was in his prime with the Miami Heat at the time.

Fast forward twelve years, and LeBron, now one of basketball’s all-time legends, is nearing the end of his illustrious career, while Tatum has emerged as a rising icon in the league—one that LeBron himself has long represented.

 

The original tweet, dated April 13, 2012, featured a youthful Tatum earnestly stating, “Follow back it’s Larry Hughes’ nephew from St. Louis and Abe and RJ’s lil cousin and Justin’s son. Follow back.” Hughes, who played alongside James on the Cleveland Cavaliers, was one of the first NBA veterans to mentor Tatum on his journey.

 

Tatum’s rise began at Chaminade High School in St. Louis and continued under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University. Meanwhile, James was the top pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, paving the way for Tatum, who was selected third overall by the Celtics fourteen years later.

 

While their paths have crossed multiple times in the NBA, this summer marks a new chapter as they prepare to compete together on the American Olympic team for the 2024 Games in Paris.