Photo credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Duke Basketball Champ Hits NBA Milestone in Career-Best Campaign
Former Duke basketball star Grayson Allen has started all 34 games he's played in his first year with the Phoenix Suns. And the 28-year-old sharpshooter is posting career-high averages across the board: 13.4 points, 4.2 boards, and 2.8 dimes while shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 46.8 percent from deep, and 91.2 percent at the line.
His 3-point and free throw percentages rank No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in the league this season.
Allen was drafted No. 21 in 2018 following his memorable four-year career as a Blue Devil, including his heroics off the bench as a freshman in the 2015 national championship game to gift Duke basketball its most recent of five NCAA titles.
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Less than six years later, he's now the program's 38th product to ever reach at least 3,000 points in NBA regular season action. He's one of 13 active players on that list (career point totals below are through Monday's games):
- Kyrie Irving - 16,357
- Jayson Tatum - 10,869
- Brandon Ingram - 8,716
- Mason Plumlee - 6,388
- RJ Barrett - 5,533
- Seth Curry - 4,944
- Gary Trent Jr. - 4,294
- Tyus Jones - 4,128
- Zion Williamson - 3,674
- Luke Kennard - 3,668
- Wendell Carter Jr. - 3,466
- Marvin Bagley III - 3,025
- Grayson Allen - 3,012
Orlando Magic forward and 2021-22 Duke basketball one-and-done Paolo Banchero, sitting at 2,350 points in only his second year as a pro, is on track to become the next to join that NBA Blue Devil 3,000-point club.
Grayson Allen passed the 3,000 mark during Sunday's 127-116 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, finishing with 20 points and a 4-for-6 clip beyond the arc.
He and the Suns (21-18) look to tally their third straight win when they host the Sacramento Kings (23-16) at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more updates on NBA Blue Devils and other Duke basketball news.