Duke basketball gets best possible matchup to open season

Duke basketball fans received the best possible NBA season opener they could have asked for.

The NBA season is drawing closer, and that means former Duke basketball stars getting to showcase their skills at the next level.

However, this year, there is no better way to open the 2020-21 season for Blue Devil fans than getting to watch the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies on December 23.

Tyus Jones vs. Tre Jones to begin the professional career of the youngest Jones brother.

It doesn’t get much better than that for Duke fans.

Tre Jones, who just became a father over the weekend after the birth of his daughter, Zara, was the No. 41 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, falling out of the first round, which not many expected. But he should thrive as a backup point guard under head coach Gregg Popovich.

Tyus Jones is set to begin his second season with the Grizzlies, after inking a three-year deal with the franchise last offseason.

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The eldest Jones began his professional career with his hometown Minnesota Timberwolves but averaged 7.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists last season while also posting 0.9 steals and 0.8 turnovers per game.

Could the Duke basketball stars be guarding each other on the first possession?

Given the fact that both Jones brothers are reserve point guards, it’s conceivable that on his first-ever possession in the NBA, Tre Jones could be defending his brother, Tyus, or vice versa.

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The ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year will be counted on by the Spurs to provided defensive minutes as a rookie given his potential offensive struggles at the next level.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00pm EST in Memphis on December 23. The Spurs will look to make the playoffs again after missing out for the first time since the 1996-97 season, and the Grizzlies will try to improve after an impressive 2019-20 campaign.