Duke announced Tuesday it has named Jayson Tatum as the program’s first chief basketball officer, making him college basketball’s first player to hold such a position. Tatum will serve as a special advisor to head coach Jon Scheyer on player development and roster construction.
Tatum will volunteer his time to meet with Duke players on career advice and personal branding. He will also conduct regular virtual sessions with the coaching staff throughout the season to provide feedback from an NBA perspective.
Tatum’s responsibilities include offering championship-level insight on player development, leadership, and life as an elite athlete, according to the school’s release. The arrangement formalizes a relationship that has existed informally since Scheyer became head coach in 2022.
“Jayson is the ultimate professional. His ability to inspire, motivate, and guide our student-athletes is unmatched,” Scheyer said in a statement.
The position represents an evolution in how college programs leverage high-profile alumni. Trae Young and Steph Curry have taken similar roles at Oklahoma and Davidson, respectively, though their positions focus more heavily on revenue generation and roster construction.
Tatum played one season at Duke in 2016-17, averaging 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game before becoming the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Scheyer served as an assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski during Tatum’s lone collegiate season.
“This program means so much to me, and I had an unbelievable time here,” Tatum said. “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.”
Tatum is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in May during the NBA playoffs. He is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 NBA season while rehabilitating.
