Jayson Tatum will serve as the Chief Basketball Officer for Duke, his alma mater, during the college basketball season, the school announced on Tuesday.
Tatum, who played at Duke in 2016-17, will be the first to hold the role.
“We are honored to welcome Jayson Tatum as our Chief Basketball Officer,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said in a statement. “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.”
Tatum was present at Duke’s Countdown to Craziness on Friday, October 3, with Scheyer telling fans that the NBA star will be “helping us this year.”
Tatum is more than excited to return to the college that helped shape his basketball career.
“When I was younger, I had people ask or say, ‘Yo, if you’ve got any questions, reach out.’ And I always thought, ‘Man, maybe they’re too busy, or I was worried about interrupting their time’,” Tatum told the Duke’s men’s basketball team after becoming their inaugural chief basketball officer. “I’m telling you guys, take my number. If you have any questions, whatever, I’m always around, always available.”
Duke created the role just for Tatum. “The Chief Basketball Officer will serve as a special advisor to the Head Coach, bringing a wealth of professional basketball experience and championship-level insight to Duke Men’s Basketball and Head Coach Jon Scheyer,” the school said in a statement.
“In this role, Jayson will leverage his career success to provide perspective and guidance on basketball development, leadership, and life as a successful athlete, leaning on the lessons he first learned here at Duke,” the statement added.
Tatum was a one-and-done star for the Blue Devils during the 2016-17 season before becoming the No. 3 overall draft pick. The Boston Celtics forward said, “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 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.”
Tatum is the latest current NBA star to make this move, after Steph Curry joined his former college as assistant general manager earlier this year.
Tatum suffered a torn achilles in May during the NBA playoffs, and it’s not clear when he will return.
