The Milwaukee Bucks will benefit from their Duke University connection next season

Duke to Milwaukee Bucks: 2. Javin DeLaurier

Although he never made an All-ACC team and was never a collegiate All-American during his time at Duke, Javin DeLaurier did make valuable contributions during his time there. He started a total of 23 games over the course of four seasons and was named a team captain in both his junior and senior seasons.

Listed as a 6’10” center, DeLaurier is in a position to learn from a skilled big man in Brook Lopez, and a big man with a high motor in Bobby Portis. If he soaks up knowledge from both players, DeLaurier could play the important role of being the third center called off the bench; Lopez and Portis can’t play the entire game.

Undrafted players who’ve had to wait before getting a shot in the NBA have made an impact before. The key is hard work. If everything Coach Krzyzewski says is true, then Coach Budenholzer and his staff will love the effort that DeLaurier brings to both practices and games. One of the most famous undrafted players ever, Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons, was just elected to the Hall of Fame this year because of his work ethic and his commitment to defense. While comparing DeLaurier to Wallace would be incredibly premature, the example does give the first-year player a point of reference and something to aspire to become.