It’s going to be a big night for Duke basketball at the 2025 NBA Draft.
Cooper Flagg is expected to become the sixth No. 1 pick in school history and third since 2019. Teammates Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, meanwhile, are also projected to be top-10 selections in the draft beginning Wednesday, June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Multiple Duke players will be selected in the first round for the seventh time in eight years, and for the third time since 2018 the Blue Devils could have three players chosen in the top 10.
There are 102 NBA players all-time who went to Duke, according to Pro Basketball Reference, including 23 active players this past season. But even though the Blue Devils have a storied college basketball history, and enjoyed unprecedented success (and five national championships) under former coach Mike Krzyzewski, ex-players’ success in the pros has often been unpredictable.
Flagg’s status as the top prospect in this year’s draft class comes with the promise that he can soon join the conversation about the best Duke product to play in the NBA. Where he ranks will depend on whether he can fulfill expectations that envision Flagg as one of the prominent players in the league right away. Only a select few Duke players have been able to do so as planned upon reaching the pros.
With that in mind, USA TODAY Sports took a stab at subjectively ranking the best Duke players to play in the NBA based on their accomplishments, statistics and longevity:
NBA draft 2025: What Duke player had the best NBA career?
Note: Accomplishments include NBA championships, NBA All-Star Game appearances, All-NBA status and NBA awards.
1. Grant Hill (1990-94)
- NBA draft: No. 3 overall pick in 1994
- NBA seasons: 19 (1994-2013)
- Accomplishments: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, 7-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year
- Background: Hill is the only Duke basketball player in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and earned All-NBA status in five of his first six seasons before a foot injury altered the rest of his NBA career.
2. Kyrie Irving (2010-11)
- NBA draft: No. 1 overall pick in 2011
- NBA seasons: 14 (2011-present)
- Accomplishments: 2016 NBA champion, 9-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year
- Background: No Duke player has scored more points or dished out more assists in the NBA than Irving.
3. Jayson Tatum (2016-17)
- NBA draft: No. 3 overall pick in 2017
- NBA seasons: 8 (2017-present)
- Accomplishments: 2024 NBA champion, 6-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA
- Background: Tatum has arguably had the best start to an NBA career among Duke products and could vault past Hill and Irving if he successfully recovers from a torn Achilles suffered with the Celtics during the 2025 NBA playoffs.
4. Elton Brand (1997-99)
- NBA draft: No. 1 overall pick in 1999
- NBA seasons: 17 (1999-2016)
- Accomplishments: 2-time All-Star, 1-time All-NBA, NBA Rookie of the Year
- Background: Brand has more minutes, blocks and rebounds in the NBA than any Duke player.
5. Carlos Boozer (1999-2002)
- NBA draft: Second round, No. 35 overall pick in 2002
- NBA seasons: 13 (2002-2015)
- Accomplishments: 2-time All-Star, 1-time All-NBA
- Background: Boozer averaged more rebounds per game in the NBA (9.5) than all but one Duke product all-time and averaged a double-double in five different seasons.
6. Luol Deng (2003-04)
- NBA draft: No. 7 overall pick in 2004
- NBA seasons: 15 (2004-2019)
- Accomplishments: 2-time All-Star, 1-time all-defense
- Background: Deng has logged the third-most minutes in the NBA among Duke players and ranks among the top 10 in points, rebounds, steals and blocks.
7. Shane Battier (1997-2001)
- NBA draft: No. 6 overall pick in 2001
- NBA seasons: 13 (2001-2014)
- Accomplishments: 2-time NBA champion, 2-time all-defense
- Background: Won back-to-back championships with the Miami Heat and ranks in the top three among Duke players in blocks and steals in the NBA.
8. Jeff Mullins (1961-64)
- NBA draft: No. 6 overall pick in 1964
- NBA seasons: 12 (1964-1976)
- Accomplishments: 1975 NBA champion, 3-time All-Star
- Background: Ranks third all-time among Duke players in NBA assists.
9. Jack Marin (1963-66)
- NBA draft: No. 5 overall pick in 1966
- NBA seasons: 11 (1966-1977)
- Accomplishments: 2-time All-Star
- Background: Marin averaged in double figures in scoring in nine different seasons in the NBA. He averaged 20.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists during the Baltimore Bullets’ run to the 1971 Finals.
10. Zion Williamson (2018-19)
- NBA draft: No. 1 overall pick in 2019
- NBA seasons: 6 (2019-present)
- Accomplishments: 2-time All-Star
- Background: Williamson’s career average of 24.7 points per game is the highest all-time among Duke players in the NBA.
11. Paolo Banchero (2021-22)
- NBA draft: No. 1 overall pick in 2022
- NBA seasons: 3 (2022-present)
- Accomplishments: 1-time All-Star, NBA Rookie of the Year
- Background: Banchero’s scoring average through three seasons (22.4) ranks among the top five all-time for Duke players in the NBA. The Orlando Magic star is likely to move into the top five of this list if he stays healthy and continues on his current trajectory.
12. Brandon Ingram (2015-16)
- NBA draft: No. 2 overall pick in 2016
- NBA seasons: 9 (2016-present)
- Accomplishments: 1-time All-Star, 2020 NBA Most Improved Player
- Background: Ingram is one of six Duke players to average more than 19 points per game in the NBA.
13. JJ Redick (2002-06)
- NBA draft: No. 11 overall pick in 2006
- NBA seasons: 15 (2006-2021)
- Background: No Duke player has made more 3-pointers in the NBA than Redick.
14. Christian Laettner (1988-92)
- NBA draft: No. 3 overall pick in 1992
- NBA seasons: 13
- Accomplishments: 1-time All-Star
- Background: Laettner didn’t live up to his hefty college resume in the NBA, but he ranks among the top 11 Duke products in career rebounds, assists, blocks, steals and minutes played.
15. Corey Maggette (1998-99)
- NBA draft: No. 13 overall pick in 1999
- NBA seasons: 14 (1999-2013)
- Background: Maggette averaged more than 20 points per game in three different seasons during his career.
Also considered: Mike Dunleavy Jr., Mason Plumlee, Mike Gminski, Tyus Jones, Johnny Dawkins
