Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Has Highest Count of Players in NBA Conference Finals

There is a 100 percent chance that at least one Duke basketball product reaches the NBA Finals this year.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball players Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II
Former Duke basketball players Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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In terms of former players on the active rosters of the four teams remaining in the NBA Playoffs, Duke basketball leads all college programs with four as Conference Finals action gets underway this week.

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Jayson Tatum, a 2016-17 Blue Devil one-and-done, is the only Duke product in the Eastern Conference Finals. That said, the five-time All-Star is the premier NBA Blue Devil and has arguably the best shot at capturing the Larry O'Brien Trophy this go-round.

He and the top-seeded Boston Celtics host the No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their series at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.

As for the Western Conference Finals between the No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves and No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks, tipping off in Minnesota at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, there's a mix of contribution levels among the three former Blue Devils on tap.

Minnesota wing Wendell Moore Jr., now in his second season with the Timberwolves since coming off the board No. 26 overall at the 2022 NBA Draft following his three seasons in Durham, typically only sees minutes in lopsided affairs.

Meanwhile, 2010-11 Duke basketball one-and-done guard Kyrie Irving, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, eight-time All-Star, and 2016 NBA champion (with the Cleveland Cavaliers), is a full-time starter and co-star alongside Mavericks sensation Luka Doncic.

Then there's Dallas rookie and newly minted All-Rookie Second Team selection Dereck Lively II, a lottery pick last summer following his one-and-done Blue Devil campaign.

Although the 7-footer is not the Mavericks' starting center, his minutes are on the rise. And for good reason, as Lively posted a remarkable plus-minus of +71 across the Mavericks' series win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a six-game battle with a combined 636-636 score.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI for more updates on NBA Blue Devils and other Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
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.

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