Duke basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Blue Devils history

Duke basketball legends Kyrie Irving and Jason Williams (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
Duke basketball legends Kyrie Irving and Jason Williams (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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Duke basketball legendary forward Shane Battier (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) /

No. 4 Greatest Duke basketball careers in NBA: Shane Battier

NBA Career Stats: 8.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 43.7 FG%, 38.4 3PT%

The numbers will never jump off the stat sheet when talking about Shane Battier but he is the pure definition of a ‘glue guy’.

Battier became known as a hustle and defensive player while at Duke and that carried over to his NBA career when he was the No. 6 overall pick of the Vancouver Grizzlies.

He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2002 after posting 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game but while his scoring numbers never were that high again in a single season it was his defense that resulted in his long career.

Shane Battier was eventually named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice in 2008 and 2009 with the Houston Rockets and finally found his elusive championship when he was paired with LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Battier won the NBA Title in 2012 and 2013 while being named as the NBA Teammate of the Year in his final season in 2014.

There is no denying that Shane Battier is one of the best NBA players to ever come out of the Duke basketball program.