Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Product Joins Kobe, Lebron, KD in Exclusive Club

Former Duke basketball gem Jayson Tatum is already a savvy playoff veteran.

Matt Giles

Duke Basketball Product Joins Kobe, Lebron, KD in Exclusive Club
Duke Basketball Product Joins Kobe, Lebron, KD in Exclusive Club /
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Only six weeks since his 25th birthday, Jayson Tatum notched his 75th career playoff game in the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics' opening round 112-99 Game 1 home win over the No. 7 seed Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. And now, in two-thirds of his postseason games as a pro, the celebrated Duke basketball talent has hit the 20-point mark.

In doing so, Tatum joined NBA legends Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant as the only players in history to record at least 50 playoff outings with 20 points or more before turning 26.

This time, the reigning NBA All-Star Game MVP finished with 25 points while shooting 10-for-23 from the field, 3-for-7 from downtown, and 2-for-2 from the foul line across his game-high 40 minutes on the floor. He added 11 rebounds and two assists.

The Hawks, coached by Duke basketball alum Quin Snyder, have two former Blue Devils on their roster in forwards Jalen Johnson and AJ Griffin. However, Griffin did not see any playing time on Saturday, while Johnson tallied six points, six boards, one assist, and one steal in 13 minutes off the bench.

RELATED: List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

Jayson Tatum, who went No. 3 overall to Boston at the 2017 NBA Draft following his one-and-done campaign in Durham, has helped the Celtics advance past the first round of the NBA Playoffs in four of the past five years since his arrival.

They reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018 and 2020. Then last season, after Tatum took home Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors, they came up two wins short of a title, losing to the Golden State Warriors, 4-2, in the NBA Finals.

Tatum is now averaging 22.9 points for his career in playoff action, 0.4 points higher than his career average in regular-season games.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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