Duke basketball products account for five percent of NBA

Former Duke basketball talents are all over the place in the NBA this year.

Matt Giles | Oct 19, 2022

Duke basketball players Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

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Duke Blue Devils

More than half of the 30 NBA rosters — 17, to be exact — contain at least one former Duke basketball player. And the 25 Blue Devils in the league, second only to Kentucky's 27, currently account for roughly five percent of the NBA's 498 players.

In other words, "The Brotherhood" could all but fill two rosters on its own.

The 25 NBA Blue Devils on opening-night rosters sit one shy of the program record in 2020.

Although several Duke basketball products from the past decade are, at least for now, no longer with an NBA team — namely, Rodney Hood, Jabari Parker, and Frank Jackson — the league saw an influx of NBA Blue Devils in the offseason.

Duke set a program record at the 2022 NBA Draft with five players hearing their names: Paolo Banchero at No. 1, Mark Williams at No. 15, AJ Griffin at No. 16, Wendell Moore Jr. at No. 26, and Trevor Keels (now on a two-way contract) at No. 42.

Plus, former four-year Duke forward Jack White earned a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets after playing his first two seasons as a pro back home in Australia.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was the only Blue Devil who played on Tuesday during the NBA's two-game opening night. Of course, it's worth noting that Tatum's 35 points in the Celtic's 126-117 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers tied teammate Jaylen Brown and the 76ers' James Harden for the most points in either game.

Wednesday night's slate features 12 games. It should be no surprise that all but two of those games include at least one team with at least one Blue Devil on the roster.

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

Published Oct 19, 2022

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.