When the world thinks of college basketball royalty, the Duke Blue Devils are front and centre. And there is no two ways about it. They have, after all, won five national championships, 17 Final Fours, and 23 ACC regular-season titles. They carry with them the Coach K legacy, too.
And sure, names like Cooper Flagg are already grabbing headlines, but before him came a parade of legends. Stats that built the legacy Flagg and others now carry.
Who are the Duke Royalty? Ranking the 5 Greatest Blue Devils of All Time
1. Grant Hill
Grant Hill is perhaps the smoothest player to ever don Duke blue. He wasn’t just the guy who threw that famous inbounds pass to Laettner in ’92. Hill was the man behind the back-to-back championship teams and was also great on both ends of the court. He averaged 14.9 points, 6 boards, nearly 4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game during his Duke career.
2️⃣8️⃣ years ago today, @realgranthill33 won his 1996 gold medal with @usabasketball 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/70WDCojLKo
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) August 3, 2024
In the NBA, Grant Hill went on to become a seven-time All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. Hill, in fact, even has a place in the Duke Hall of Fame and the ACC’s 50 Greatest Players list.
2. JJ Redick
For Blue Devils fandom, there is no forgetting the way JJ Redick shoots. Reddick owned the Cameron Indoor every time he put on the jersey. He is a four-time All-ACC and Duke’s all-time leading scorer with 2,769 points. Redick also had 457 three-pointers during his time.
Redick’s senior year saw him average 26.8 points per game, second only to Adam Morrison nationwide. Redick holds the NCAA free-throw record, and his Duke #4 forever hangs from the rafters. And no doubt, JJ Redick brought on the show every night. It is a legacy only a few can touch.
3. Christian Laettner
There is no Duke list without “The Shot.” Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beater against Kentucky in 1992 is hands-down the most iconic moment in college basketball history. But Laettner was no one shot pont. He has two national championships, 2,460 career points, and records in tournament wins that stand at 21.
Happy Birthday to the 1992 National Player of the Year and 2x National Champion, Christian Laettner! pic.twitter.com/n0sdzGSwSo
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) August 17, 2015
While it is true that Laettner was hated quite a bit, there is no debating his legacy. In fact, he was so hated that ESPN made a whole 30 for 30 titled “I Hate Christian Laettner.” But greatness always sparks envy, and Laettner lived rent-free in opponents’ heads. He made Duke the dynasty it is today.
4. Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson’s Duke career lasted only one season. But it is a season that the fandom still fondly remembers. Williamson is a 6-foot-7, 285-pound player who took over college basketball in 2018-19. He averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, nearly 2 steals, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 74.7% inside the arc.
Williamson was so good that CBS literally dedicated a “Zion Cam” to track his every move. One year. That’s all it took for Zion to become a Duke legend. First overall NBA pick. Two-time All-Star. And a one-and-done Blue Devils fandom will never forget.
5. Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum was a name on everyone’s lips during the 2016-17 season. He went on to average 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in his lone season. Not only did he shine in March Madness, but he also made Duke a serious threat on both ends of the floor.
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Tatum went pro, and his resume just kept growing. He went on to become a four-time All-NBA selection and the leader who just helped Boston win the 2024 NBA Finals. Tatum is proof of Duke’s ability to create NBA stars.
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