Duke basketball: Two more NBA Blue Devils get waived

The count of Duke basketball alums in the NBA rose and then fell this week.

Matt Giles | Oct 14, 2022

Duke basketball national champs (Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports)

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Duke Blue Devils

And then there were 26. Duke basketball peaked this week with 29 former players on active NBA contracts. But a few of those professional Blue Devils held Exhibit 10 deals — essentially bodies to fill teams' 20-man preseason rosters — and were far from locks to land on a 15-man roster when the regular season gets underway next week.

On Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns waived 2016-17 Duke one-and-done Frank Jackson, a 24-year-old point guard who went No. 31 overall at the 2017 NBA Draft and has averaged 8.5 points across his 213 career games in the league.

Then on Thursday, news of more Blue Devils getting waived popped up on the NBA player transactions log.

The Memphis Grizzlies waived Matthew Hurt. They did so despite signing the 22-year-old power forward only a few days prior and not putting him on the floor for any preseason action. He has yet to be on an NBA regular-season roster since turning pro following his sophomore year at Duke in 2021 and going undrafted.

Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings waived 2015 Duke basketball national champ Quinn Cook. Last season was the first since his rookie year that the 29-year-old point guard (a two-time NBA champion: with the Golden State Warriors in 2018 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2020) didn't end up on an NBA team.

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

Published Oct 14, 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.