Duke on Tuesday named former Blue Devil standout and NBA champion Jayson Tatum its Chief Basketball Officer.
As Chief Basketball Officer, Tatum will volunteer his time as a special advisor to head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke program, bringing championship-level insight and professional basketball experience to player development, leadership, and life as an elite athlete. Tatum, who starred for the Blue Devils in 2016–17 before launching a decorated NBA career, will leverage the lessons he first learned in Durham to help prepare current Blue Devils for success both on and off the court.
“We are honored to welcome Jayson Tatum as our Chief Basketball Officer,” said Scheyer. “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.”
“I am ecstatic about the opportunity to be Duke’s first Chief Basketball Officer,” said Tatum. “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.”
The creation of the Chief Basketball Officer signals a bold and innovative step in college basketball. It underscores Duke’s deep connection to the NBA while affirming Scheyer’s vision for a program that not only develops champions in college, but also prepares players for life and success at the game’s highest level. By embedding a player of Tatum’s caliber directly into the program, Duke is redefining how alumni can actively shape the future of student-athletes.
In his capacity as Chief Basketball Officer, Tatum will:
- Conduct in-person team visits to share insights on player development, professionalism, and team culture.
- Serve as a mentor to student-athletes, offering guidance on career management, personal brand building, and balancing life as a student-athlete.
- Join periodic virtual sessions with the team and coaching staff to provide ongoing perspective throughout the season.
- Advise Scheyer on roster construction and development trends informed by his NBA experience.
- Provide feedback on player performance and growth plans to help align Duke with professional-level standards.
The appointment of Tatum as Chief Basketball Officer further reinforces the power of The Brotherhood — Duke’s lifelong network of players, coaches, and alumni — and illustrates how Scheyer is reimagining the college basketball model. For current student-athletes, it offers a rare and invaluable opportunity: direct access to the mindset, standards, and habits required to excel at the game’s highest level.
(Release via Duke)
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