Basketball
Jayson Tatum, Duke basketball’s other top NBA draft picks of all time
Video: Duke basketball’s Jared McCain lights up NCAA Tournament
Freshman Jared McCain dropped 30 points and Duke record 8 3-pointers for an NCAA Tournament game in Sunday’s rout of James Madison in the Round of 32.
Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski are hoping to be the latest Duke basketball players to hear their names called in the NBA draft, which begins with the first round Wednesday before concluding Thursday in New York.
The Blue Devils have seen 55 players selected in the first round, including 30 lottery picks. Duke has had a player picked in the first round in 12 of the last 13 drafts.
McCain and Filipowski are projected to be first-round picks. But before we turn our attention to who’s next, let’s take a look back at four of the best Duke players to be selected in the history of the NBA draft.
Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
Selected third overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1994 draft, Hill was Rookie of the Year in 1994-95 and thrived as an all-around player, leading the NBA in assists per game among wings for four seasons in a row. A seven-time all-star, Hill played more than 1,000 games, averaging 16.7 points, six rebounds and 4.1 assists. If not for injuries, Hill likely would have been on track to make the NBA’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams.
Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls
The top pick in the 1999 NBA draft, Brand was a two-time all-star and nearly averaged a double-double (15.9 points, 8.5 rebounds per game) in 17 seasons with five teams. Like Hill, Brand played more than 1,000 games in the league. He averaged more than 20 points per game in six seasons.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Picked by the Celtics with the No. 3 pick in the 2017 NBA draft, Tatum is a five-time all-star coming off his first NBA title. Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this season. The 26-year-old wing has become one of the league’s superstars for one of its best franchises.
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
The No. 1 pick by the Cavs in the 2011 draft, Irving is an eight-time all-star. Alongside LeBron James, Irving led Cleveland to the 2016 title. Following stints with the Celtics and Nets, Irving experienced a resurgence in helping the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals this season. He averaged 25.6 points, five rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in his 13th year in the league.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
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