How recent NBA injury endangers Duke basketball future

A couple of potential Duke basketball players admitted a recent devastating injury to a household name may influence the number of games they play in college.

Neither naiveté nor denial will make a growing Duke basketball problem simply go away — nor will blaming a star freshman with one-and-done intentions for being extra cautious.

The early-season precautions in 2016-17 were not ideal for that team’s success. Neither was last season’s sudden decision from Cam Reddish not to play a do-or-die game. Same goes for the coaches’ decision to have Zion Williamson sit out a few more games than “Twitter doctors” expected.

Skip to the present.

Don’t blame an individual 17-year-old for peeking at all the mock drafts listing his name as a lottery pick.

Don’t blame the kid for replaying Kevin Durant’s rushed return from a right calf injury so he could play Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Don’t blame him for wondering if Durant’s rushed return was to blame for his historically unfortunate injury to his right extremity before halftime of said return — you know, the same ruptured Achilles tendon that even some of the most promising careers don’t survive.

And don’t blame the kid for putting two and two together then freaking out over what could happen if he was to suffer a similar injury during what he hopes to be only a one-year layover in Durham.

Blame the game for unapologetically bullying the lower extremity. And blame those who play any part in stupidly governing the game — e.g., the one-and-done rule and waiting until likely 2022 to put an end to it.

Of all the reporters this week at Peach Jam — a hoops Woodstock for recruiting junkies — USA Today’s Jason Jordan raised the most interesting question to the potential household names of tomorrow.

His article didn’t provide his exact phrasing, but in essence, he must have asked, How did Durant’s injury affect your mentality moving forward?

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Jordan’s interviewees included the one holding a Duke offer who is arguably the readiest to be in the NBA already: Cade Cunningham.

"“It’s hard because we all think we’re invincible in some ways,” said the 2020 point forward who ranks No. 2 overall on the 247Sports Composite. “KD is one of my favorite players so it hit closer for me. We just think what are the chances of that happening. Now we see this, and we see it definitely can happen.”"

What can soon happen to Duke as a result — potentially all four incoming scholarship players will be first-rounders after next season — is a rise in the number of minor injuries resulting in extended absences.

Paolo Banchero, a 16-year-old power forward who ranks No. 4 overall among his 2021 peers and picked up a Duke offer on Saturday, weighed in with how he plans to decide when to come back from any future injuries.

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"“You need that person that can step in that you respect,” Banchero said. “That’s so important. It’s up to us to listen, but sometimes we need that person that’s gonna shut us down and make that call.”"

Problem is, when “that person” becomes plural, problems ensue; after all, doctors, parents, coaches, and friends are rarely all in agreement.

So maybe the Blue Devils should alter their recruiting strategy, but realize such change would come with a dip in thrilling talent and potential unintended consequences.

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No matter which stance you take, though, we should all agree it’s understandable for those Duke basketball players with millions at stake to think twice the next time they consider rushing a return from an injury — particular one from the waist down.

"“No one wants to sit on the sidelines, but you have to do whatever it takes to be around long term,” Cunningham told Jordan. “That’s how you have to think.”"

ALSO READ: Four reasons Duke still has shot at Cade Cunningham

But Cunningham didn’t need to say all that. He could have stopped after the three words he said before all that. Because these three words say it all:

"“Health is wealth.”"

Next. Ranking the five Bayou Blue Devils. dark

Hard to disagree there.

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