Duke basketball: Rundown of where all 27 NBA Blue Devils now reside
By Matt Giles
Duke basketball’s Eastern Conference NBA players
Atlanta Hawks (22-22): Despite being a popular name in trade rumors this week, it looks as though Cam Reddish, who is averaging 11.2 points per game, will be staying put in Atlanta through at least the end of his ongoing injury-riddled sophomore campaign.
Boston Celtics (21-23): Jayson Tatum remains the only Blue Devil in Boston (not counting former outbound Duke basketball transfer Semi Ojeleye) and is leading the squad with an average of 24.8 points per game.
Brooklyn Nets (30-15): Kyrie Irving is in his second season with the Nets and averaging a career-best 28.1 points per game for the legit title contender, which features several other high-profile stars in Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Blake Griffin.
Charlotte Hornets (22-21): Two-way rookie Vernon Carey Jr. is currently on Charlotte’s active roster, but the second-round draft pick has played in only seven NBA games this season while largely receiving mop-up minutes.
Cleveland Cavaliers (17-27): Since waiving Marques Bolden in late February, the franchise has picked up a different former Blue Devil in Quinn Cook and has now signed the 2015 Duke basketball national champ to two consecutive 10-day contracts.
Detroit Pistons (12-31): Three Blue Devils — Mason Plumlee, Jahlil Okafor, Frank Jackson — have laced ’em up for the Pistons this year, and all three remain with the franchise; although Plumlee is the only full-time starter of the bunch, Jackson has seen an increased role of late, starting the past four games.
Indiana Pacers (20-23): As a two-way player after going No. 54 overall at the 2020 NBA Draft, Cassius Stanley has been on the floor in 11 games for the Pacers, totaling all of 13 points and eight rebounds.
New York Knicks (23-22): The No. 3 overall pick from 2019, RJ Barrett, continues to be a key piece to what has been a surprisingly strong effort as of late from the Knicks, who have climbed to No. 5 in the Eastern Conference standings; he did have a former Blue Devil for a teammate in the Big Apple, but as you’ll see here in a second, Austin Rivers is now in the Western Conference.
Orlando Magic (15-29): Wendell Carter Jr. had been averaging 10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in what was his third season with the Chicago Bulls since going No. 7 overall at the 2018 NBA Draft, but he will now be helping out the lowly Magic after being part of a relatively high-profile trade on Thursday.
Philadelphia 76ers (32-13): Former Duke basketball sharpshooter Seth Curry is a full-time starter and integral component to the success in Philly, for the Sixers reign supreme in the Eastern Conference standings as their Blue Devil shows no signs of falling from No. 1 on the NBA’s list of active 3-point percentages.
Toronto Raptors (18-26): Toronto picked up Gary Trent Jr., who is averaging 15.0 points this season, in addition to Rodney Hood via a trade on Thursday with the Portland Trail Blazers; now, both former Blue Devils should be able to carve out sizeable roles with the struggling Raptors.