Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum and Washington Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal grew up childhood friends in St. Louis, went to the same high school, and now are teammates on Team USA.
The two All-Stars spoke after practice during Team USA training camp in Las Vegas on Wednesday, both talking about their close bond.
“We’re both excited. For one, we grew up five minutes from each other. To have two guys from the same high school on the same team, I don’t know if that’s ever happened in USA Basketball” Bradley Beal said about playing alongside Tatum. “Jayson and I have a special relationship and I’m looking forward to it,”
"Jayson and I have a special relationship and I'm looking forward to it."
Bradley Beal says he and childhood friend, Jayson Tatum can't wait to play together for the first time ever as members of Team USA basketball. pic.twitter.com/9DsLetF6CY
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) July 7, 2021
For Tatum who is four years younger, though he never played with Beal at Chaminade College Prep School, he played for Brad Beal Elite, an AAU team coached by Beal in St. Louis.
“He’s someone I’ve always looked up to and still do to this day,” Tatum said of Beal.
With Tatum and Beal teamed up on Team USA and new Celtics coach Ime Udoka in Las Vegas for Team USA training camp, it’s hard for Celtics fan not to wonder about a potential trade that could land Beal alongside his childhood friend.
At least for Beal, he knows those kind of talks will happen as USA Basketball has become a popular venue for players to form bonds and begin discussions to team up. As Keith Smith of Celtics Blog noted on Twitter, when asked how much Team USA players will discuss teaming up in the league, Beal responded, “I don’t know. Probably a lot.”
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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