Jayson Tatum, one of the most celebrated One & Done former players for the Duke Blue Devils has blossomed into a superstar for the Boston Celtics. He’s quickly adopted an indispensable place on the Duke basketball staff. As for his new leadership structure, Williams will serve as the organization’s chief basketball officer. In this new volunteer advisory role, he will continue to develop and mentor the current players. This project is intended to help improve player development, professionalism, and the general culture of the team at Duke.
Tatum, who was a standout player for Duke during the 2016-17 season before entering the NBA as the No. 3 draft pick, is excited about this opportunity. He stopped by Duke’s “Countdown to Craziness” preseason event as well. This event served as both ceremonial kickoff for the basketball season and for his effort to support the program he loves so much.
In his new capacity, Tatum will join the team on the ground in person. He’ll focus on core subjects such as career development, building a brand and dealing with the pressures of being a collegiate athlete. He will stay in touch with the team via online meetings. He’ll help shape conversations around roster construction alongside head coach Jon Scheyer.
“This program means so much to me, and I had an unbelievable time here,” Tatum remarked, reflecting on his time at Duke and his ongoing connection to the program.
Just like staying true to Duke after first committing to Coach K’s program all those years ago, Tatum’s loyalty never wavered. He reiterated his desire to make his connection to the program official. Of course, I already binge watch every game in the dorms, fly back whenever possible, and stay in touch with Coach Scheyer all the time. 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,” he stated.
Jayson Tatum as a six-time NBA All-Star He’s fresh off leading the Boston Celtics to a 2024 championship, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite players. Tatum is still healing from a ruptured right Achilles tendon, which he suffered during the 2023 NBA playoffs in May. He’s focused on doing something to improve the experience for Duke’s future student-athletes.
Coach Jon Scheyer welcomed Tatum’s involvement, emphasizing the importance of former players in shaping the next generation of Duke basketball. “This program has always been about pushing the game forward,” he noted, highlighting Tatum’s role as a mentor to current players.
Leave a Reply