After Using Michael Jordan Partnership To Break His Heart, Jayson Tatum Reveals True Feeling About Cooper Flagg’s and Duke’s NCAA Run

Wherever you go and whoever you become, you always wear your alma mater’s name with pride. In the NBA, however, a player’s skills at the college level play a bigger role. But then, if you’re a Blue Devil like Jayson Tatum, all eyes are on you. All the time. You see, Duke has given the league some of its greatest gems. Take JJ Redick, for example. He aced as a hooper, and now he’s running the show for the Lakers as their head coach. Now, coming back to JT, the Boston Celtics star has a lot of reasons to celebrate but at the cost of Michael Jordan!

Tatum & Co. walked into the AT&T Center on Saturday to crush the San Antonio Spurs in a 121-111 win. The 27-year-old power forward chipped in 29 points and became the top scorer of the day. Meanwhile, a lot was happening with his college basketball team. Duke was supposed to struggle against Alabama’s powerhouse offense. Instead, it dominated. The Blue Devils locked down the nation’s highest-scoring team and ran circles around them in an 85-65 blowout.

Even with Cooper Flagg having an off night, Duke’s depth shined. With a trip to the Final Four on the line, they left their mark. Knowing all this, Jayson Tatum couldn’t help but express his true emotions for the Blue Devils. How much has JT been enjoying watching the Duke playoff runs on both sides? “It’s been great. The men’s team just got their spot in the Final Four. I think the women’s team plays tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to hopefully having both teams in the program,” Tatum expressed.

Tatum’s good wishes come days after he went all-out with a sweet gesture for his NCAA team. As you know, JT is a signature Jordan Brand athlete who is locked in on a 5-year $75M contract. Meanwhile, Duke Blue Devils is a Nike-sponsored school. However, Nike and Jumpman usually stay in their own lanes. But Duke and Tatum? They break the rules—for family.

Before tipping off their NCAA Tournament run, Duke’s women’s squad got a fresh gift—sneakers straight from Jayson Tatum. They laced up the Jordan Tatum 3 in the bold “Blueprint” colorway. All blue, all swagger, and a nod to Jay-Z’s legendary album.

However, little did JT or the Duke women’s team know that this gift would backfire on Michael Jordan himself. Maybe this is why Jordan Brand and Nike stay on their respective sides of the world. Who knows?!

Jayson Tatum’s gift gives Michael Jordan heartbreak as Duke overpowers UNC

University of North Carolina, aka UNC, is the alma mater of Michael Jordan. He had helped the Tar Heels win the NCAA championship in 1982. It’s safe to say that MJ might still be one of the brightest stars of UNC. Now, coming back to the present, the women’s basketball team met Duke’s women’s basketball team for a matchup on Friday. Wearing Jayson Tatum’s “Blueprint,” Kara Lawson’s girls went all-out on the court.

Duke took down North Carolina, 47-38, in their first-ever NCAA Tournament clash, punching their ticket to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2013. Moreover, Lawson’s squad made history, but the job isn’t done—they now face powerhouse South Carolina. Meanwhile, Oluchi Okananwa dominated with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Ashlon Jackson added 10.

Thus, handing Michael Jordan’s college team a heartbreak, Tatum’s college thrived. Meanwhile, the Celtics’ stars’ heartfelt message for Cooper Flagg and Co. as they move into the Final Four would be the perfect boost before the games ahead. March Madness is in full bloom, and so is the NBA. The basketball world is always in action, don’t you think?