Jayson Tatum discusses going up against close friend in NBA playoffs

When the Celtics host the Magic on Sunday, it’ll be a reunion between two good friends and former Duke stars: Jayson Tatum and Paolo Banchero.

BRIGHTON — Paolo Banchero often sports Jayson Tatum’s sneakers, and when he’s needed advice throughout the years, the Celtics star has been someone he has turned to.

The two have maintained a close friendship throughout Banchero’s journey from Duke to the NBA, with Tatum embracing the role of the mentor. But when the Celtics take on the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs on Friday, two standout Duke basketball alumni will put their friendship to the side.

Paolo Banchero and Jayson Tatum were friends since Banchero was in college

Banchero, the top draft pick in the 2022 draft, played for Duke for one year before beginning his NBA career in Orlando. That year in Duke, Amile Jefferson was one of his assistant coaches; Jefferson is one of Tatum’s closest friends and is now an assistant coach on the Celtics.

Tatum, who was selected third overall by the Celtics in 2017, was already a three-time All-Star by the time Banchero entered the league. And, he shared his experiences from his first few years in the league to help aid Banchero’s transition.

In January of 2023, Banchero told Boston Sports Journal’s Bobby Manning that one of the biggest pieces of advice Tatum gave him when he entered the NBA was: You have to go and take what you want.

“Coming in, just because you’re a high pick, you’re probably going to have more stuff handed to you than the regular person, but you can’t take on that attitude,” Banchero said, recalling his friends’ advice. “You have to work for everything. Guys are going to come at you, guys on other teams, maybe even guys on your own team… just be aware that nobody’s going to hand you anything. You’ve got to go out and take it. That always stuck with me.”

Jayson Tatum has regularly battled friends throughout the playoffs — and Paolo Banchero is the latest

Tatum is not in unfamiliar territory when it comes to matching up against a good friend in the NBA playoffs. He’s battled against close friend Bam Adebayo on the Miami Heat in four of the last five playoffs, the two sharing that they ceased communication throughout the postseason.

He’s eliminated Kevin Durant, someone he’s regularly trained with and learned from, and faced fellow 2017 lottery pick and close friend Donovan Mitchell in the conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Spring. The list goes on and on.

Tatum said that facing off against his good friend in the postseason doesn’t change the dynamic of the series.

And, on Tuesday night, after the Magic clinched their spot in the first round against Boston, Banchero reflected on what facing Tatum would be like.

“I’ve known Jayson since I was going into college,” Banchero said. “I see him every summer. [He’s a] guy that I’m very familiar with, but one of the guys I go to for advice and stuff like that. Obviously, now we’re competing — and I think the best way for me to show my respect is to give him my best effort and go at him as much as I can.”

Tatum said at practice on Wednesday that he appreciated Banchero’s mindset.

“That’s how it should be,” he said. “He’s trying to lead his team in the playoffs and figure out ways to win, and I’m trying to do the same thing.”

But, the two will set their friendship aside for the first time as they prepare for a first-round playoff battle.

“It’s just shifting your mindset to — it’s the playoffs,” Tatum said. “Just having the understanding that — no friends out there. Nothing else matters besides doing everything I can to help my team win. There’s not really time for anything else.”