Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum will serve as Duke University’s first-ever Chief Basketball Officer this season, the program announced.
“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. I already watch every game, come back whenever I can, and connect with Coach (Jon) Scheyer often. To have a role that formalizes my relationship with the program and broadens 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,” Tatum said, in a statement.
Tatum, who is working towards an eventual return from a ruptured Achilles tendon, played for Duke during the 2016-2017 season. The Celtics drafted him third overall after that year.
In the role, Tatum will serve as a mentor to Duke players on career management, “brand building,” and student athlete life. He’ll hold “occasional zoom calls” with the coaching staff and advise Scheyer on “roster construction and player development trends,” according to the university.
“I really just hope to make more of an impact on the program in a positive way,” Tatum said, in a filmed interview released by Duke. He described how other Duke program alumni guided him through the transition to professional basketball, and how he has tried to do the same with players like the Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero, a 2021 Duke product.
During his eight NBA seasons, Tatum has won a championship, won first-team All-NBA four times, and compiled six All-Star seasons.
Although formalized by the school, the role is voluntary.