Three Duke basketball champs for Joey Baker to study this summer

Duke basketball champs for Joey Baker to study this summer: MIKE DUNLEAVY

In the early 2000s, Mike Krzyzewski tabbed Mike Dunleavy the most versatile player he had coached since Grant Hill (1990-94). If not for the 6-foot-9, 220-pound nimble small forward’s versatility — to the tune of 1,371 points, 601 rebounds, 225 assists, and 166 steals across only three years in college — the 2001 NCAA Championship banner would not be hanging inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Last season, when talking about Joey Baker, Krzyzewski used words like “versatility” only when the 40-year Duke head coach was implying a lack of it.

As for what Baker could glean from all the film on Dunleavy, let’s begin on the offensive end. Unlike Baker, Dunleavy was able to create his own shot via silky handles — most evident in the grainier mixtape below — that complemented his full array of pump fakes and body contortions. If Baker could just figure out how to mimic a couple of these moves, he’d stand to enjoy a field day like the one against Wofford far more often:

On the other end of the floor, Dunleavy was underrated. Sure, long arms played a part in his 2.3 steals per game during his third and final season. But the combination of his poise and instincts were just as important.

Now, to Baker’s credit, he brings the necessary energy and loud voice to be a great team defender; heck, he even brought back Duke’s patented floor slap last season. That said, in order to avoid Coach K’s doghouse next season, he may want to spend some time dissecting Dunleavy’s confidently chillaxed defensive presence.

Moving on to Dunleavy’s former teammate…