It’s hard to imagine [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag]’s first seven years in the NBA going much better.
The former Duke basketball star went third overall to the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA draft, and all he’s done since is become the first Blue Devil to make multiple All-NBA First Teams, reach five Eastern Conference finals, and make the NBA Finals twice.
With the 2024 Finals set to start on Thursday, the 26-year-old is the betting favorite to win Finals MVP with his Celtics, fresh off a 64-win season and a 12-2 run through the conference bracket, heavy favorites to win the title. He seems like a sure bet to usurp Grant Hill as the best Duke alum in league history by the time he’s done, and he’s arguably the best former Blue Devil in NBA history already.
Here’s a look back at Tatum from 2017 until now with his best photos since draft night.