How the NBA Draft looked vastly different for Duke basketball program

The first round of an NBA Draft feels strange absent Duke basketball names.

Over the past few years, we have seen former Duke basketball stars have to wait only a short time to hear their names called at the NBA Draft.

That was not the case on Wednesday night in the first-ever virtual draft. The first Blue Devil taken off the board was Vernon Carey Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 32 overall selection. Tre Jones was then picked shortly thereafter at No. 41 to the San Antonio Spurs. Finally, we saw Cassius Stanley taken at No. 54 to the Indiana Pacers.

ALSO READ: Four reasons Tre Jones slipped to the second round

The 2020 NBA Draft marked the first time since 2013 that a Blue Devil was not selected in the top three:

• 2014 – Jabari Parker (No. 2 overall)
• 2015 – Jahlil Okafor (No. 3 overall)
• 2016 – Brandon Ingram (No. 2 overall)
• 2017 – Jayson Tatum (No. 3 overall)
• 2018 – Marvin Bagley III (No. 2 overall)
• 2019 – Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett (No. 1, No. 3 overall)

It was also the first time a former Duke player was not picked in the first round since 2010. Furthermore, it was the first time in three years that multiple Blue Devils were not selected in the top 10.

Duke basketball has been synonymous with high draft picks over the past several years. But 2020 has been the weirdest year in recent memory. And seeing no Blue Devils taken in the first round has made this year even weirder.

The three Duke basketball products are in ideal situations nonetheless

It is certainly no slight to be a second-round pick, and all the former Blue Devils landed in good places. Tre Jones joins a winning organization with one of the all-time best coaches in Gregg Popovich. Vernon Carey Jr. joins a young team that has a lot of talented pieces. Cassius Stanley joins a franchise that is a contender in the Eastern Conference year in and year out.

Being second-round picks could give these guys some added motivation to prove the doubters wrong.

However, the adjustment to the NBA will be harder than ever this year. Players will have just one month between the time they’re drafted and their first regular-season game. It will likely take a few years to get an accurate assessment of how good these young former Blue Devils can be in the league.

While it is too early to forecast for the 2021 NBA Draft, I will go out on a limb and say that Duke will be back in the first round next year.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball news and views.