In 2020, the Duke basketball program set an ACC record with 26 former players on NBA rosters on Opening Day. With 25 under contract at the moment, the program is flirting with this record for next season.
In other words, the NBA’s Blue Devils will once again represent about five percent of all players in the league.
Of course, it’s impressive.
But that number could be considerably higher had some of the names below stayed at Durham for a year or two longer to hone their skills before entering the professional ranks.
Notable Duke basketball products without an NBA home
Yeah, some of those guys probably made the right decision to leave the Blue Devils back then. Several seemed to have nothing more to prove as a college student.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that a few could hold on to an NBA franchise before the season kicks off in mid-October.
For now, though, these nine, who left Duke with remaining eligibility, don’t appear to be part of any team’s 2022-23 equation:
Jabari Parker: Played for Duke in 2013-14; left three years of eligibility on the table; last played for the Boston Celtics in 2021-22.
Rodney Hood: Played for Duke in 2013-14; left two years of eligibility on the table; last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021-22.
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Jahlil Okafor: Played for Duke in 2014-15; left three years of eligibility on the table; last played for the Detroit Pistons in 2020-21.
Harry Gilles: Played for Duke in 2016-17; left three years of eligibility on the table; last played for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2020-21.
Frank Jackson: Played for Duke in 2016-17; left three years of eligibility on the table; last played for the Detroit Pistons in 2021-22.
Trevon Duval: Played for Duke in 2017-18; left three years of eligibility on the table; last played for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018-19.
Bolden Brands: Played for Duke in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19; left one year of eligibility on the table; last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020-21.
Cassius Stanley: Played for Duke in 2020-21; left four years of eligibility on the table (due to the free year of eligibility for anyone who played during this COVID-sapped season); last played for the Detroit Pistons in 2021-22.
Matthew Hurt: Played for Duke in 2019-20 and 2020-21; left three years of eligibility on the table; never played in an NBA game.
What is the lesson here? Well, when in doubt, consider staying at Duke.
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