Blue Devil Country

Former Duke basketball star breaks Larry Bird's Celtics record

Duke basketball product Jayson Tatum has become a 30-point scoring machine.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball star breaks Larry Bird's Celtics record
Former Duke basketball star breaks Larry Bird's Celtics record /
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Boston Celtics sensation Jayson Tatum's career-high 30.1 points per game is only the sixth-highest scoring average in the NBA this season. However, thanks to his durability in racking up only five absences, the former Duke basketball forward leads the league with his 2,078 total points and counting.

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And with his game-high 34 points in Boston's 120-95 home win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, the prolific 2022-23 version of Jayson Tatum has now scored 30 or more points 40 times, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Larry Bird for the most in a season in franchise history.

It was Tatum's third 30-point performance in his past four outings as the Celtics (51-23) remain at No. 2 in the Eastern Conference standings, only 2.5 games back of the Milwaukee Bucks (53-20) heading down the homestretch of the regular season.

The 25-year-old Tatum, who went No. 3 overall at the 2017 NBA Draft following his lone Duke basketball campaign and is now a four-time All-Star, added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in his 32 minutes against the Pacers.

Currently, Jayson Tatum sits No. 4 on the Kia MVP Ladder, trailing Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (No. 1), Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (No. 2), and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (No. 3).

Note that no NBA Blue Devil has ever received the MVP crown.

In addition to his scoring average, Tatum is averaging a career-high 8.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Next up for the Boston Celtics is a home game against the San Antonio Spurs (19-55) and former Duke basketball guard Tre Jones at 6 p.m. ET Sunday.

RELATED: List of every Blue Devil currently in the NBA

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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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