For over four decades, the Duke men’s basketball team has been supreme as one of the premier college basketball programs thanks to its ability to recruit and develop the best talent in the world, and this season is no different. Quite a number of Duke players turn out every week for various franchises in the NBA.
The 2025 playoffs are no different, as at least six Duke players are on the teams vying to win the championship this year. Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr., and Memphis Grizzlies’ Luke Kennard and Marvin Bagley III. Lakers head coach JJ Reddick also went to Duke.
Ex-Blue Devils Turn Up the Heat in the NBA Playoffs
The 2025 NBA playoffs started on April 19, and teams have started showing evenly matched contests or a gulf in class. The latest round of games featured ex-Duke stars balling out for their team, putting smiles on Duke fans’ faces as they watch their old boys show out on the court.
One of the contests in the Eastern conference has three former Blue Devils facing off with Tatum’s Celtics battling Banchero and Carter’s Magic.
Tatum dropped 36 points, nine rebounds, and four assists while Banchero’s 29 points and six rebounds together with Carter Jr.’s 10 points and 12 rebounds (first-career playoff double-double) propelled the Magic to a Game 3 win.
However, the Duke who shined the brightest on the night was Gary Trent Jr. who dropped 37 points, four steals, and shot 9-12 from three-point range (tied Bucks playoff record with nine 3’s) as the Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers to bring the series to 2-1 in Indiana’s favor.
Jayson Tatum, who won the Larry O’Brien Trophy last year, was selected as number three overall in the 2017 NBA draft. Paolo Banchero was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft just three years ago.
There are several other Duke players in the league who didn’t make the playoffs this year. Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks is a former blue devil and former overall number one pick. Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans is also a former overall number one and he went to Duke.
KEEP READING: Top 5 AAU Duos That Made It to the NBA
Brandon Ingram, Derek Lively II, Jared McCain, Mason Plumlee, Luke Kennard, Tyus Jones, Mark Williams and a lot of others all went to Duke and are active players currently in the NBA.
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