Jayson Tatum wouldn’t trade his St. Louis roots for New York ball skills

Jayson Tatum wouldn’t trade his St. Louis roots for New York ball skills

New documentary “NYC Point Gods” is all about the special gifts that legendary NBA point guards honed up playing in the Big Apple’s playgrounds and gymnasiums as kids.

But Jayson Tatum says he still wouldn’t trade his St. Louis roots for New York City skills.

“Nah, I am from St. Louis. I love New York but I’m from St. Louis,” the Celtics star told us at the premiere of the movie at Midnight Theater, “I feel like New York players have a different game. I feel like growing up, all the New York guys had swag. They all could dribble. Midwest guys are better shooters, so there was definitely a difference of where you grew up.”

Jayson Tatum on the basketball court wearing his black and green uniform.However, the Celtics player says he loves New York while attending the “NYC Point Gods” premiere.NBAE via Getty Images

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, who’s the subject of trade talk, was the executive producer of the flick, which addresses the rise of flashy NYC point guards Rafer Alston, Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury, Kenny Smith and Rod Strickland.

Regardless of his hometown, Tatum tells us he never doubted he’d make it to the NBA.

Jayson Tatum wearing his white Celtics uniform on the basketball court.Tatum never doubted he would make it to the NBA.Getty Images

“No, it was never a scary thought [if I didn’t] make it to the NBA what job or career I would be doing,” he said, “The NBA was the only option. I was going to make it happen. I’m extremely blessed to be here living out my dreams. I never think about what could go wrong; I always think about what I could do.”

He added, “I’m just happy to be in New York [to see the movie]. I heard this was going on. Obviously I am not from New York but I have a lot of respect for these guys [in the film]… I love basketball so I felt like I should be here to be a part of this.”

“NYC Point Gods” premieres July 29 on Showtime.