Duke Basketball: Several NBA Blue Devils on Tap for Opening Night
![Former Duke basketball guard JJ Redick Former Duke basketball guard JJ Redick](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_9335,h_5250,x_0,y_170/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/blue_devil_country/01j58b8ej7wwt72xj207.jpg)
As first reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania this week, the 2024-25 NBA regular season gets under way on Oct. 22 with two primetime matchups: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers. So, it looks as though a handful of former Duke basketball players will be part of the action in some capacity that night.
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Of course, the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics boast a 2016-17 Duke basketball one-and-done in three-time All-NBA First Team selection and now-two-time Olympic gold medalist Jayson Tatum. And the Boston coaching staff includes Tatum's college teammate in former five-year Blue Devil forward and 2015 national champion Amile Jefferson.
According to Charania, their opener will serve as yet another "ring night" for the 18-time NBA champion franchise.
Opening Night of the 2024-25 NBA season on TNT October 22, per sources:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 12, 2024
🏀 Knicks at Celtics, ring night
🏀 Timberwolves at Lakers pic.twitter.com/RGWFglVZ9F
The other clash on opening night will mark the regular season head coaching debut — at any level, for that matter, and in the form of a home outing — of all-time Duke basketball scorer JJ Redick. Plus, not only does his Los Angeles Lakers roster include 2018-19 Blue Devil forward Cam Reddish, but Redick also added a fellow 40-year-old Blue Devil legend to his staff in reigning G League Coach of the Year Lindsey Harding.
At the moment, neither the New York Knicks nor the Minnesota Timberwolves have a Duke pro on contract for next season.
There's no word yet on tipoff times for the Celtics-Knicks or Lakers-Timberwolves showdown.