Jayson Tatum is a well-established name in the NBA today, with the potential to become an all-time great. At age 27, he is already a champion, a six-time All-Star and a four-time All-NBA First Team member. JT has indeed done a great job carrying the mantle of a franchise like the Boston Celtics.
That said, it has been a tough few months for Tatum, who is dealing with an Achilles injury sustained during the 2025 semi-finals series against the New York Knicks. Nonetheless, the Celtics forward has shown nothing but positive signs in his recovery journey so far.
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However, he is having a hard time staying away from the hardwood. Hoping to utilize this time in the most effective way possible, JT has recently taken on the role of chief basketball officer at Duke University. The former Blue Devils player is looking forward to his new venture.
“This program means so much to me, and I had an unbelievable time here. I already watch every game, come back whenever I can, and connect with Coach Scheyer often. To have the chance to formalize my relationship with the program and broaden my ability to impact the players and culture means the world to me,” expressed the Celtics star.
“As former players, we all share the responsibility of supporting the next generation of Duke Basketball,” he added.
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Oddly enough, Tatum only played one season for the Blue Devils before declaring for the NBA. Regardless, he managed to leave a lasting impact during his freshman season.
The one-and-done season with Duke
Attending high school in St. Louis, Missouri, Tatum made waves with his performances, earning him a spot in the 2016 McDonald’s All-American game. As a five-star recruit, he received offers from several reputed colleges, but decided to take his talents to Duke.
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Even though Tatum missed the first eight games of the season due to a foot injury, it did not take him long to find his groove. Winning the ACC championship, Duke entered the NCAA tournament as the second seed, but failed to get past South Carolina in the second round.
In the 29 games that JT played for the Blue Devils, he averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks. One of his most memorable performances was against Virginia on the road, where he scored a season-high 28 points and made six 3-pointers.
Despite foregoing his three years of college at Duke, Jayson has maintained a strong relationship with the management, including the current coach, Jon Scheyer.
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The Duke coach is excited to have Tatum on board
An assistant to Coach Mike Krzyzewski during JT’s time at Duke, Scheyer was named head coach in 2022. Thus, he has been a close witness to Tatum’s basketball journey and certainly looks forward to reuniting with him as they look to shape and develop the young college prospects.
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“This program has always been about pushing the game forward. Jayson has been incredibly loyal to Duke since the day he committed, and this evolution represents the next step in how we connect The Brotherhood to the future of our players. Jayson is the ultimate professional,” Jon said.
“His ability to inspire, motivate, and guide our student-athletes is unmatched, and I could not be more excited to see the impact he will have on our team and our culture,” added Scheyer.
As Chief Basketball Officer, Tatum will conduct in-person meetings to discuss various aspects of player development. He will also mentor athletes in areas such as career management, building their market value, and helping them manage their college timetable.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
