Amile Jefferson set for the NBA Finals as a Boston Celtics assistant coach

Amile Jefferson, who won a national title with the Duke in 2015, seeks another title alongside fellow former Blue Devil Jayson Tatum.

[autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] isn’t the only former Blue Devil trying to win a ring with the Boston Celtics in the upcoming NBA Finals.

Amile Jefferson, who helped Duke win its most recent national title in 2015, joined Boston’s coaching staff as an assistant this season.

The 6-foot-9 forward spent five years with the Coach K in the Duke program and played 150 games, the most of any Blue Devil ever. In his last year with the Blue Devils, he averaged 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks.

After a brief NBA career with the Orlando Magic, Jefferson returned to Durham in 2021 to serve as the Director of Player Development. Jon Scheyer promoted him to assistant coach in his first season at the helm, and Jefferson spent one season there before returning to the NBA.

Jefferson and Tatum played together during the latter’s lone season in Durham, which was Jefferson’s redshirt senior campaign. The two clearly remain close, as seen by their embrace after clinching the Eastern Conference.

The final best-of-seven series begins on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks.