Celtics' Jayson Tatum Hypes Coach K amid Viral Photos of Duke Legend Working Out

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum hyped up his former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski after photos circulated on Monday night of the 77-year-old hitting the bench press at the team's facility.

Tatum played at Duke during the 2016-17 season when Krzyzewski coached the team to an ACC tournament championship.

Tatum was on a team with Grayson Allen, the Duke alum whose workout Krzyzewski joined in the viral photos.

The Celtics star then left Duke to join the 2017 NBA draft, while Krzyzewski retired after 42 years with the Blue Devils in 2022.

Tatum said during his fifth NBA season in 2022 on the Draymond Green Show (45:00 mark) that his relationship with Coach K continued after the Celtics selected him with the No. 3 pick.

"That is my guy... I still talk to Coach at least once, if not twice, a month, ever since I left school," Tatum said about Krzyzewski. "That's something I really am proud about my decision of going to Duke. That's something I cherish, this relationship. And it didn't just stop once I walked out that door and left Durham."

Tatum celebrated that relationship with a post honoring Krzyzewski ahead of his final game with Duke in 2022.

Krzyzewski officially retired in 2022, allowing Jon Scheyer to take over as head coach, but he has since remained an ambassador to the university. Krzyzewski was paid almost $9 million by Duke in the fiscal year 2023, Daniel Libit reported for Sportico.

Now it turns out Krzyzewski is not just hanging out, but working out, with the men's basketball program. That could help encourage current roster members to hit some extra reps this offseason as Duke looks to capitalize on another likely one-and-done season by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg this fall.