Former Duke Star Jayson Tatum Is Now on Same List as Celtics Legend Larry Bird

Former Duke star Jayson Tatum had an amazing game for the Boston Celtics on Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets. 

The NBA star not only scored 40 points, but he also hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer in overtime. 

Tuesday night was Tatum's first 40-point game since returning in March from a torn right Achilles. He joined Larry Bird (who did it twice) as the only player in Celtics history to score at least 40 points and hit a buzzer-beater in the same game, according to Basketball Reference.

Also, per Basketball Reference, it was Tatum's third career buzzer-beater, tying Bill Sharman for third most in Celtics history behind only Paul Pierce (6) and Bird (4).

"That was a hell of a feeling," Tatum said of the shot. "Just kind of getting back to doing things that, you know, I used to do before I was injured."

Tatum became the first player in NBA history with at least 40 points and a game-winning buzzer-beater in a game before November.

A St. Louis native, Tatum was the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Celtics forward spent just one season at Duke, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Duke went 28-9 with Tatum leading the way in 2016-17. They were upset, though, by South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Tatum's highest-scoring game with Duke was 28 points against Virginia on February 15, 2017.

Tatum helped the Celtics win the 2024 NBA championship against the Dallas Mavericks in five games. He tragically tore his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. 

However, he returned from his injury in less than one year last season. It was remarkable. 

A six-time All-Star, Tatum entered this NBA season with career averages of 23.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in the regular season and 24.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in the playoffs. He's one of the best players in Duke and NBA history. 

For the Celtics this season, Tatum is putting up 28.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. It's been fun to see the Duke product play like a superstar again. 

Tatum is the only former Blue Devil on the Celtics, but Duke fans still support Boston since Tatum is there and always represents Duke. He and Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving went back to Duke this offseason and played pick-up games.