Duke basketball: NBA menace always wanted to play for Blue Devils

A menace in the NBA admitted he always wanted to play for the Duke basketball program. 

The NBA world was tilted sideways on Monday morning as the always controversial Patrick Beverley made his ESPN debut as a basketball analyst, but he snuck a comment about the Duke basketball program into his remarks in all of his bold takes.

In an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, the Minnesota Timberwolves point guard was joined by host Molly Qerim, star Stephen A. Smith, and analyst JJ Redick to debate the two Game 7’s in the NBA Playoffs on Sunday, May 15, and it did not disappoint.

As the show began to wrap, the panel gave their predictions for the Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks. But Beverley shared his thoughts about the former Blue Devil Redick in the segment.

“JJ Redick was my favorite basketball player,” Beverley admitted.

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“I wanted to go to Duke when I was a kid. I watched everything he did.”

Redick starred in Durham from 2002-06, in which he won two ACC Player of the Year Awards and the National Player of the Year in 2006.

Patrick Beverley said his favorite aspect of Redick’s game was “how he came off screens.”

“They put me in the same kind of offense when I was in college. That’s how I got Freshman of the Year,” the 33-year-old continued.

“Credit JJ Redick.”

Duke basketball was not an option for the future defensive slugger

Patrick Beverley was a four-star prospect from Marshall, Illinois and the No. 59 player in the Class of 2006, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, who eventually committed to Arkansas.

The premier recruiting service only lists Beverley as holding other offers from Michigan and St. John’s.

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Duke brought in a four-man recruiting class in 2006 comprised of Gerald Henderson, Lance Thomas, Brian Zoubek, and Jon Scheyer.

It is funny how things work out as Mike Krzyzewski would eventually land his successor in the Class of 2006 when Patrick Beverley, who was ranked as a better recruit than Scheyer, wanted to play at Duke.

Now, Jon Scheyer will begin his first season as the head coach of the Blue Devils in November.