Injured Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is back at Duke. What is his role?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jayson Tatum joins Duke as chief basketball officer while rehabbing Achilles.
- He will advise Coach Scheyer on player development, leadership and culture.
- Tatum remains in recovery from a 2025 Achilles rupture but stays active in program.
Jayson Tatum made a surprise appearance Friday at Duke’s “Countdown to Craziness” and the former Blue Devils star was given a thunderous ovation at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer, in bringing out Tatum, said the injured Boston Celtics forward would “be helping us out this season.” That earned another ovation.
The Blue Devils said Tuesday that Tatum, who is rehabbing a ruptured Achilles tendon, would become Duke’s first chief basketball officer. Tatum will volunteer his time as a special advisor to Scheyer and the Duke program, bringing his insight and professional basketball experience to player development, leadership and life as an elite athlete.
Tatum, 27, played at Duke in 2016-17 and quickly established himself in the NBA with the Celtics. Taken third overall in the 2017 draft, the versatile 6-foot-8 forward made the NBA’s All-Rookie team in 2018, has been an All-NBA selection five times and helped spur the Celtics to the NBA championship in 2024.
Tatum also was a part of two Olympic gold-medal winning teams for Team USA., in 2021 and 2024.
“This program has always been about pushing the game forward,” Scheyer said in a statement. “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 led the Celtics in points, rebounds and assists during the 2024 championship run, including a 31-point, 11-assist outing against the Dallas Mavericks in the final game of the 2024 NBA final.
Tatum was rewarded with an eight-year contract extension reportedly worth more than $300 million.
In the 2025 playoffs, Tatum was finishing out a 42-point game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12 when he hustled after a loose ball, diving across the floor and rupturing his Achilles. He underwent surgery a day later.
In his one season at Duke, Tatum helped the Blue Devils win an ACC championship and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Tatum became a “one and done” player, making the decision to enter the 2017 NBA Draft a few days after the Blue Devils lost to South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
“I’m excited to take the next step in pursuing my lifelong dream of playing basketball at the highest level possible,” Tatum said in a statement.
Tatum averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds, second among ACC freshmen in both categories, after missing the first eight games of the season to a sprained foot.
Tatum’s recovery from the Achilles injury has been impressive. He has attacked his rehab with almost daily workouts, according to media reports.
While the initial prognosis was that Tatum would miss the 2025-26 season, he created a stir recently with a YouTube video that had him doing some basketball drills at the Celtics training facility.
But until he’s cleared medically to play, Tatum will help out the Blue Devils.
“This program means so much to me, and I had an unbelievable time here.,” Tatum said in a statement. “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.”
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 10:10 AM.
