A Duke basketball star continues to reach milestones and records with his professional franchise.
In a matter of a few years, Duke basketball products have taken over the NBA, and the former Blue Devils are leaving no doubt as to who are the best young players in the league.
Perhaps the best young star, Jayson Tatum, continues to match milestones and records with the Boston Celtics, and Monday night was no different.
One day following his second game-winning shot of the season against the Detroit Pistons, Tatum followed that up with a 40-point showing against the Toronto Raptors.
https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1345860384255741953?s=20
The former Blue Devil fell one point shy of his career-high 41 points, which he achieved twice last season, as Boston pulled away from a double-digit deficit to a 126-114 victory.
ALSO READ: Father of Duke standout makes startling demand
In the midst of his 40-point performance, Tatum became the first player in Boston Celtics franchise history with three 40-point games before turning 23 years old.
Jayson Tatum and teammate Jaylen Brown also became the first Celtics players to each score over 200 points in the first eight games of a season since Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, according to NBA.com Stats.
Last week in a win over the Indiana Pacers, Tatum became the second player in Boston Celtics history to score 4,000 career points before turning 23 years old.
Duke basketball star emerging as Most Valuable Player candidate
Through the first three weeks of the NBA season, the Duke basketball program already has two former players emerging as Most Valuable Player candidates in Tatum and New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram.
Jayson Tatum is averaging 26.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.7-percent from the floor and 42.9-percent from 3-point range.
ALSO READ: Duke continues streak of bad news in 2021
The 22-year-old All-Star finished ended his night with six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks on 11-of-19 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 from deep in his 40-point outing.
Tatum and the Celtics return to the court on Wednesday, January 6 in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat (7:30pm EST, ESPN).