Jayson Tatum learned everything about being a star while at Duke. He calls it his “best decision,” cherishing the time of playing under the college’s most iconic coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Tatum loves them so much that he is joining them again to help the future generation. The Celtics forward will take on a newly introduced role with the five-time national champions.

Jayson Tatum will join as the Chief Basketball Officer. Duke was the right place to welcome one of their own to their basketball staff. “In this role, Jayson Tatum will leverage his career success to provide perspective and guidance on basketball development, leadership and life as a successful athlete, leaning on the lesson he first learned here at Duke,” they mentioned in an Instagram post.

Tatum bloomed into a stunning forward under the mentorship of Coach K. It was ground zero for the Celtics’ cornerstone, who has become one of the best modern-day talents in the NBA. With the experience he has garnered, Tatum can help unlock the potential of Duke stars, which already consists of three five-star recruits.

Even though it’s a new role, Jayson Tatum doesn’t feel like it. He still follows Duke with his heart and has even built a relationship with head coach Jon Scheyer.

“I am ecstatic about the opportunity to be Duke’s first Chief Basketball Officer. This program means so much to me, and I had an unbelievable time here… 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,” he said about the role.

Recovering from an Achilles tear, Jayson Tatum is still committed to focusing on rehab. But he will still make time to mentor and help the coaching staff end the Blue Devils’ championship drought.

Jayson Tatum could develop the next Duke sensation

Duke’s pipeline to the NBA remains elite, with Cooper Flagg’s selection as the 2025 No. 1 draft pick by the Mavericks raising expectations. The Boozer twins, Cayden and Cameron, are poised to follow, both ranked in On3’s top 50 for the 2025 class.

Cameron, a 6’9” forward, boasts a 7’1” wingspan and a polished mid-range game, per scouting reports from 247Sports. Jayson Tatum, who led Duke to a 2017 ACC title and won an NBA championship in 2024, could guide Cameron, leveraging his experience guarding versatile forwards like

Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia, a 6’8” facilitator with a 42% three-point shooting clip in high school (per MaxPreps), adds a modern playmaking dimension. Their collective potential could end Duke’s NCAA title drought, last broken in 2015 under coach Jon Scheyer’s mentorship as an assistant.

It starts with the Boozer twins. Sons of former NBA player Carlos Boozer, both Cayden and Cameron, have featured in ESPN’s top 100 rankings. The former is a 6’4” guard with great playmaking instincts. His brother is ranked third in the country and is a 6’9” force as a forward. Duke also has Nikolas Khamenia, who is listed as a point forward and a coveted asset in the NBA.

For Cameron Boozer, Jayson Tatum could be a massive influence. Roughly the same size and build, he can benefit greatly by picking Tatum’s brains. A six-time All-Star, JT is a dynamic scorer with championship experience. Both of those aspects are vital for Duke. But with Tatum’s expertise, the Blue Devils will hope to break the deadlock.

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