Tyrese Proctor reveals his all-time Duke basketball starting five

The returning Duke basketball guard appears to have some recency bias.

Matt Giles | Mar 28, 2023

Tyrese Proctor reveals his all-time Duke basketball starting five /

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Duke Blue Devils

One day after becoming the first of this year's heralded crop of Duke basketball rookies to announce his plan to remain in Durham for at least one more season, Tyrese Proctor embraced his place in "The Brotherhood" by retweeting his all-time starting lineup from the program.

Here are the five former Blue Devils who are deserving of that honor in the eyes of the soon-to-be 19-year-old Australian, whose list comes from his recent episode of "Days Off" with Whistle Sports:

Kyrie Irving
Jayson Tatum
Paolo Banchero
Zion Williamson
Christian Laettner

It's a forward-heavy lineup, which is somewhat surprising given Proctor is a point guard.

My Duke starting five 👀 Check out my episode of Days Off w/ @whistlesports 🏀 https://t.co/yUrc7qjYGK
— Tyrese Proctor (@TyreseProctor) March 28, 2023

And only one of those Duke basketball players, Laettner, cut down nets in April. Of course, the oh-so-clutch big man did so twice (1991, 1992) to give the program its first two of now-five national championships and is a must on any such list.

The other four are former one-and-done talents, three of which were in college within the past seven years.

But in terms of sheer talent, you can't go wrong with Tyrese Proctor's selections. After all, three members of his all-time Blue Devil starting five became No. 1 overall draft picks: Irving, Williamson, and Banchero. And Tatum, now a legit NBA MVP contender for the Boston Celtics, went No. 3 overall in 2017.

Even so, it would be difficult for any long-time Duke basketball fan to leave off the list guys like Grant Hill, Jay Williams, Shane Battier, JJ Redick, or others whose jersey numbers forever hang from the Cameron Indoor Stadium rafters.

Again, though, consider that Proctor wasn't alive when Hill, Williams, or Battier played for the Blue Devils.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

Published Mar 28, 2023

MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.