Childhood friends Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk have given fans what they have wanted for a while, by recreating their famous school bus photo. The duo both tasted success at the same time, winning championships in their respective sports last season. Tatum won his first-ever NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, while Tkachuk won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers.
Before becoming champions in their respective leagues, Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk were high school classmates at Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis. It was at the time they attended middle school together, that the iconic photo of the duo with their friend Jacob Bai, was taken. The photo quickly went viral on the internet and coincidentally, it was during the period their teams were on the verge of winning two prestigious titles.
Recently though, the Celtics player and Panthers star took it upon themselves to finally bring their childhood memories to reality. Both Jayson Tatum and Tkachuk were present at the MLB on-field ceremony that took place in St. Louis on Sunday afternoon. The two champions were invited by their hometown baseball team St. Louis Cardinals, to throw out the first pitch ahead of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was when they were done with the pitches that the trio of Tatum, Tkachuk and Bai, recreated their childhood photo.
With the high school buddies coming together again, fans have expressed admiration, and heaped praise on them for their achievements. Tatum scored 31 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds, helping the Celtics win the NBA title against the Mavericks. Tkachuk led the Panthers to win the Stanley Cup for the first time, with a Game 7 win over the Edmonton Oilers on home ice.
Jayson Tatum and always supported each other during title runs
Despite playing for different teams in separate sports, Tatum and Tkachuk never stopped supporting each other. Ahead of the Panthers’ win over the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals, the ice hockey star expressed his hope to see him and the NBA star win their respective titles.
I think it would be unreal for Chaminade and all of St. Louis if we can both win it... I’m definitely cheering for him Matthew Tkachuk before Panthers’ win over the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals
Furthermore, after Boston defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals, the basketball star urged his childhood pal to bring the NHL trophy home. Tatum said: “Tkachuk, yo, get it done tomorrow. One kid from St. Louis won a championship today, let’s make it two tomorrow.”
With the off-season gradually coming to an end, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics will hope to defend their championship after their record-setting campaign last season. And so will Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers who will look to build on the back of their success as well.
