Duke Basketball: One NBA Team Now Boasts Three Blue Devils

As of Friday's deals, Dallas leads the league in former Duke basketball players.

Matt Giles | Jul 1, 2023

Duke Basketball: One NBA Team Now Boasts Three Blue Devils /

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The Dallas Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets in February and signed the 31-year-old free agent to a three-year, $126 million contract on Friday. At the NBA Draft last week, they traded down two spots to select another Duke basketball one-and-done, 19-year-old Dereck Lively II, at No. 12 overall.

Then on Friday night, the franchise landed Seth Curry, Irving's teammate at Duke and most recently for the Nets. He agreed to a two-year deal — according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, "the Mavericks used their $4 million-plus biannual exception" to acquire the 32-year-old — and is returning to Dallas for the third time in his career.

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— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) July 1, 2023

Yes, it seems Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and his gang might have a preference for both rookie and veteran Blue Devils nowadays, whether they are former lottery picks (Lively this year and Irving at No. 1 in 2011) or went undrafted out of Duke (Curry in 2013).

Assuming Dereck Lively II learns the ropes while Seth Curry does his thing from downtown off the bench and Kyrie Irving manages to coexist smoothly with fellow All-Star playmaker Luka Doncic, the Duke basketball trio in Dallas could account for roughly a third of the rotation.

Dallas, for the moment, at least, is the only NBA franchise with three former Blue Devils on contract for next season.

Last season, the second under head coach Jason Kidd, the Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time in four years, finishing 11th in the Western Conference standings with a 38-44 record.

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

Published Jul 1, 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.