While Celtics star Jayson Tatum will miss a majority of the upcoming NBA season, he’s still busy.
Tatum has been named Chief Basketball Officer of his alma mater. As Chief Basketball Officer, Tatum will volunteer his time as a special advisor to Duke men’s basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke program. The NBA champion will bring “championship-level insight and professional basketball experience to player development, leadership, and life as an elite athlete.” Additionally, Tatum will conduct virtual team meetings and discuss roster construction with Scheyer to ensure that the “ program that regularly produces high-level NBA talent.”
In a statement, Scheyer lauded Tatum for all he brings to the program.
“We are honored to welcome Jayson Tatum as our Chief Basketball Officer,” said Scheyer. “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. 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.”
Taytum also expressed his excitement about taking on the role.
“I am ecstatic about the opportunity to be Duke’s first Chief Basketball Officer,” said Tatum. “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. As former players, we all share the responsibility of supporting the next generation of Duke Basketball.”
During the 2016-17 season at Duke, Tatum averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, despite missing the first eight games due to a foot injury. He led the Blue Devils to an ACC Tournament Championship, where he was named to the All-Tournament team. Following the season, he was selected with the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.