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NBA: Ranking the 10 greatest Duke players in NBA history

By Josh Cornelissen

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans warms up before a game against the Miami Heat at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans warms up before a game against the Miami Heat at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Duke, NBA
Duke, NBA Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images /

Ranking the 10 greatest Duke players in NBA history: 10. Christian Laettner

For a four-year college basketball player in the 64-team NCAA Tournament era, the most games you could play in is 24: six games per tournament culminating in the title game. Over his four years at Duke, Christian Laettner played in 23 games. That is a mind-boggling number. He made it to the Final Four every year, three times reaching the title game, winning two titles for the Blue Devils.

In the summer of 1992, he was part of the historic U.S. Olympic Dream Team and was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he never became an NBA superstar, he did put together a 13-year career, playing 868 games and racking up 64.9 win shares. His best season came in 1996-97 when he averaged 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds and made his only All-Star Game.

Ranking the 10 greatest Duke players in NBA history: 9. Carlos Boozer

One of the first Blue Devils to leave for the NBA a year early, Carlos Boozer entered the 2002 NBA Draft after three years under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. He wasn’t taken until the 35th pick, but he proceeded to vastly outplay his draft slot.

After two years in Cleveland, he joined the Utah Jazz and hit his prime, averaging a double-double for four consecutive seasons. He made two All-Star teams, and in 2007-08 was a third-team All-NBA selection. His career, which also encompassed stints with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, spanned 13 years and his 8,192 rebounds rank in the top-75 all-time.