Duke announced on Tuesday that the Jayson Tatum has appointed the first Chief Basketball Officer of the program, making him the first player of the College Basketball to hold such a position. Tatum will serve as a special adviser for head coach Jon Scheyer about player development and schedule construction.
Tatum will do his time volunteer to meet Duke players on career advice and personal branding. He will also perform regular virtual sessions with the coaching staff to give feedback from an NBA perspective throughout the season.
The responsibilities of Tatum include offering insight at championship level in player development, leadership and life as a top athlete, according to the release of the school. The scheme formalizes a relationship that exists informally since Scheyer became head coach in 2022.
“Jayson is the ultimate professional. His ability to inspire, motivate and guide our student athletes is unparalleled,” Scheyer said in a statement.
The position represents an evolution in how college programs use fierce alumni. Trae Young and Steph Curry have played similar roles at Oklahoma and Davidson respectively, although their positions concentrate heavily on generating income and grid construction.
Tatum played one season at Duke in 2016-17, on average 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game before he became the third general choice in the NBA design of 2017. Scheyer served as an assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski during the only collegial season of Tatum.
“This program means so much to me, and I had an incredible time here,” Tatum said. “To get the chance to formalize my relationship with the program and my ability to influence the players and increase culture means the world for me.”
Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles in May during the NBA play -offs. He is expected to miss the most or the entire NBA season 2025-26 while rehabilitation.
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