Report: Duke assistant Amile Jefferson finalizing deal with Boston Celtics as assistant coach

Plenty of faces from the college basketball world will be making the jump to the NBA with the draft scheduled for Thursday. However, a coach is reportedly moving up as well, with the Boston Celtics making an assistant hire from the college ranks.

According to Travis Branham of 247Sports, Duke assistant coach Amile Jefferson will be heading to the NBA. Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla is adding Jefferson to his staff after spending just under two years with the Blue Devils. A huge career move for Jefferson, being somebody who is still relatively new in the coaching world.

Jefferson is still fresh off his playing career, playing for both Duke and Boston. He can now say both teams have employed him as a coach as well.

Mike Krzyzewski originally hired Jefferson before he was kept on by Jon Scheyer. Duke’s 2022-2023 roster was one stacked full of freshmen, winning the ACC Tournament and winning a game at the NCAA Tournament. A few players will hear their name called in the NBA Draft as well, with Jefferson playing a key part in their development.

As a player, Jefferson won the national championship with Duke back in 2015. He played in 39 games, averaging 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. That was one of five seasons he played with the Blue Devils, growing into a bigger role as time progressed.

Amile Jefferson joining Celtics after Eastern Conference Finals run

Boston made the NBA Finals in the summer of 2022 but began this past season with some turmoil. Mazzulla eventually took over as the head coach and found a way to make sure the Celtics continued to play at a high level. An Eastern Conference Finals was made before bowing out to the Miami Heat in seven games.

Jefferson joins hoping to bring another championship back to one of the NBA’s most successful franchises. It’s been since the 2008 season when Jefferson was around 15 years old. Since then, he has played college basketball, enjoyed a professional career, coached in college, and now is back in the NBA.

A roster with Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown is one of the best in the NBA. Jefferson will continue to work with a young core, hoping to break through and bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy to a place it’s called home 16 different times. Jumping up a level could prove to be quite the opportunity for a young assistnat coach.