A total of 18 NBA organizations feature at least one former Blue Devil, headlined by three teams with a trio of former Duke players – Charlotte (Grayson Allen, Sion James and Kon Knueppel), Dallas (Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II) and Phoenix (Luke Kennard, Khaman Maluach and Mark Williams). Orlando (Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.) and Denver (Marvin Bagley III and Tyus Jones) also have multiple Blue Devils.
Jalen Johnson continues his career with the Atlanta Hawks, while Jayson Tatum is aiming for his seventh consecutive All-Star campaign with the Boston Celtics. Tre Jones remains with the Chicago Bulls and Tyrese Proctor is a second-year player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rookies Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans will take the floor for Memphis and Minnesota, respectively, while Maliq Brown is on San Antonio’s active roster as a two-way player.
Gary Trent Jr. (Milwaukee) and Zion Williamson (New Orleans) are familiar faces on their rosters, while Jared McCain begins his first full season with Oklahoma City after joining the Thunder at the trade deadline last season. RJ Barrett (Toronto) and Kyle Filipowski (Utah) are the final two former Blue Devils that are active at the start of the NBA season, as Brandon Ingram continues his rehab with the LA Clippers after injuries to his Achilles and heel.
Duke’s 26 NBA players also join a long list of former players, coaches, managers and Duke graduates that serve on NBA coaching staffs, in front office roles or for the league office. That includes former Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who joined the NBA in the summer of 2024 as a special advisor, 1984 Duke graduate Adam Silver (NBA Commissioner), Grant Hill (part owner of the Atlanta Hawks), Trajan Landon (President of Basketball Operations of the Detroit Pistons), Quin Snyder (Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks), Mike Dunleavy (General Manager of the Golden State Warriors) and JJ Redick (Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers).
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