NBA stars Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson recently decided to catch up with one another for lost time.
The duo has known each other thanks to their college connections, both having played for Duke under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. While they did not play together as Tatum declared for the draft in 2017 after one season with Williamson doing the same in 2019, that did not the pair from bonding with one another.
Representing the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans as franchise stars, Tatum and Williamson have made names for themselves in one way or another.
While the latter has yet to get past the injury bug despite showcasing the superstar talent when he is available, the former has been successful as Boston’s top star, winning an NBA championship last season while being part of the Team USA squad that won gold in the Paris Olympics.
To end the summer before reporting to their respective teams for training camp in the fall, Tatum and Williamson decided to have a basketball session together in China, enjoying their time playing against their fans.
Zion and Jayson Tatum vs some fans in China 🤣🔥 @Zionwilliamson @jaytatum0 pic.twitter.com/dbRdbmzcFz
— Overtime (@overtime) August 29, 2024
A great experience for the star duo to have, considering their Duke connections and their duels in the NBA that showcase their competitive spirits against one another.
Tatum looks to follow up on a 2023-24 campaign that witnessed him putting up 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 47.1% shooting overall and 37.6% from beyond the arc. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for his efforts, on top of winning an NBA championship for Boston.
Williamson is coming off a season that saw him average 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and five assists on 57% shooting from the field in a career-high 70 appearances. The Pelicans barely made the playoffs, getting swept by Oklahoma City in the first round with Williamson being absent after suffering a significant injury during the Play-In Tournament.
Tatum and the Celtics will look forward to defending their title, beginning the season against the New York Knicks on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
