Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball One-And-Done Records First NBA Point

Former Duke basketball forward Dariq Whitehead is now officially on the board as an NBA scorer.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball forward Dariq Whitehead (John Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
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As of Saturday night, Duke basketball product Dariq Whitehead is in the books as the second-youngest player in history to make his regular season debut for the Brooklyn Nets (7-8).

And the mere 19-year-old wing, who went No. 22 overall to the Nets at the NBA Draft despite his injury-dampened one-and-done campaign under then-first-year Blue Devil head coach Jon Scheyer, can now say he's scored a point in the league.

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Granted, Whitehead tallied only one point in Brooklyn's 112-97 home win over the Miami Heat. He shot 1-for-2 at the charity stripe, adding one block to his stat line, but did not register a field goal attempt across his three minutes of mop-up duty off the bench.

In May, Whitehead underwent a second surgery on his right foot, which the former five-star recruit fractured two months before the start of his freshman season with the Blue Devils.

Since working his way back from that procedure, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound New Jersey native has suited up five times for the Nets' G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 20.6 minutes per outing.

Although his first NBA box score was notably limited, there's no doubt the youngest active NBA Blue Devil is thrilled to be in the league in an official capacity.

"It means everything, honestly," Dariq Whitehead told the media about how it felt to finally make his NBA debut. "I feel like a healthy Dariq Whitehead can be very special."

The Nets' other former Duke basketball one-and-done, Harry Giles, did not receive any playing time on Saturday night.

Brooklyn next hosts the Chicago Bulls on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more 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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