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

Duke to Milwaukee Bucks: 1. Rodney Hood

Rodney Hood was named to the SEC All-Freshman team while playing for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He then decided to take his talents to Durham, NC and play in front of the “Cameron Crazies” for the remainder of his college career.

Since being drafted in the first round by the Utah Jazz in 2014, the word most commonly associated with Hood has been “potential.” Usually, pundits are describing his potential to be an impact player or a high-volume scorer. He’s shown flashes of brilliance over the course of his pro career, but he’s also been derailed by injuries. A torn Achilles early in the 2020 season caused him to miss the remainder of the season.

At his best, Rodney Hood is a 6’8″ wing player who can put the ball on the floor, finish above the rim, and knockdown open jump shots as well. He won’t compete with Khris Middleton for minutes or touches, but there are some striking similarities in their games. If Hood is able to return to the physical health he enjoyed back in his days as a member of the Utah Jazz, he will be a reliable spark off of the bench; something every contender needs in their arsenal.

Over the years, Duke’s basketball program has produced Christian Laettner, Bubby Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill and Kyrie Irving to name a few. None of Milwaukee’s “Dukies” have the basketball pedigree that those great players had. However, they are all capable of making a valuable contribution next season. If they absorbed the lessons they learned from “Coach K” over the years, they have a very good chance of doing just that.