Five Duke basketball products who could make 2021 NBA All-Star Game
By Matt Giles
A handful of former Duke basketball stars have a case to be 2021 All-Stars.
Duke basketball has seen 10 alums achieve NBA All-Star status. Those 10 total 26 appearances: Jayson Tatum (2020), Brandon Ingram (2020), Kyrie Irving (2013-15, 2017-19), Luol Deng (2012-13), Carlos Boozer (2007-08), Elton Brand (2002, 2006), Christian Laettner (1997), Grant Hill (1995-98, 2000, 2005), Jack Marin (1972-73), and Jeff Mullins (1969-71).
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As one can see, there have never been more than two Blue Devils in the same year. But this go-round, if counting a head coach, there could be as many as five at the event, scheduled for March 7 in Atlanta.
Outlining the selection process, fan voting is underway and weighs 50 percent in picking the 10 starters while the other 50 percent is split evenly between player and media votes. Then, the league’s 30 head coaches choose 14 reserves. Finally, the two captains — the leading vote-getter from each conference — draft from the final pool to compile the two 12-deep rosters.
As for the head coaches of each side, those seats will go to the guys with the best record in their respective conferences as of Feb. 21, except that the two from 2020 (Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers, Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors) aren’t allowed to repeat.
Now, with all that out the way, it’s time to rank Duke’s five contenders in ascending order of their likelihood to become 2021 All-Stars…