19 former Duke men’s basketball players played during the NBA’s regular season. Ten of those players advanced to the NBA Playoffs. However, just two remain as I am typing this.

That means that eight were eliminated, so let’s take a look at them.

The LA Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs (who advanced to the Western Conference Finals last night) in the first round. Guard Chris Duhon played in two games. In the final game, he played 43 minutes and scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. He also dished out seven assists. On the season, Duhon averaged 2.9 points and 2.9 assists over 17.8 minutes.

The Boston Celtics were eliminated by the NY Knicks in the first round. Shavlick Randolph played just three minutes in the April 23rd loss. He did haul in three rebounds.

The Milwaukee Bucks were swept by the Miami Heat in the first round (the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals). Two former Blue Devils were a part of the Bucks season. Mike Dunleavy averaged 12.3 points, four rebounds, and two assists over their four playoff games. During the regular season, he averaged 10.5 points in 25.9 minutes.

JJ Redick averaged 7.3 points in the four playoff games. After playing in 50 games to start the season with Orlando, he was traded to Milwaukee and played in 28 games. During the regular season, Redick averaged 12.3 points.

» Continue reading “8 Former Blue Devils Eliminated from NBA Playoffs”

The NBA season is in full swing, as All-Star starters were recently announced. This is a great time to take a look at how the former Duke men’s basketball players are doing in the NBA.

Three players are rookies in the NBA, two of which were members of last season’s Duke team that was upset in the NCAA Tournament by Lehigh.

Kyle Singler is not one of them. After spending last season in Europe, he has returned to the Detroit Pistons, who drafted him in 2011. He has started 31 of the Pistons 39 games in his first season. The Pistons are just 14-25 (fourth in the Eastern Division’s Central Division). Singler is averaging 8.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds a game in 27.6 minutes. In his last game, he scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting (3-of-6 from beyond the arc). He also had four assists.

Austin Rivers has been hampered by injuries in his rookie season with the New Orleans Hornets. Overall, he has started 22 of the 38 games for the 13-26 Hornets (last place in the Western Conference’s Southwest Division). His shooting percentages are low (33% overall and just 56% from the free throw line), as he is averaging just 6.2 PPG. In his last game, against his father’s Boston Celtics, he scored eight points.

Miles Plumlee

Miles Plumlee has been shuttled back and forth between the Indiana Pacers and the D-League Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He is averaging 12.6 PPG and 11.1 RPG in ten D-League games (eight starts). Plumlee is coming off a ten point, 12 rebound performance on Friday night. He last played with the Pacers on December 21st (six total games).

Lance Thomas is in his second season in the NBA and has stuck with the Hornets. He has started nine of the 32 games he has played. He is averaging 2.8 PPG and 2.5 RPG, while shooting 45.8% from the field.

Kyrie Irving is having a great second season in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the Cavs are in last place in the Central Division (10-31). Irving has started all 30 games he has played and is averaging 23.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 5.6 assists per game over 35.7 minutes. His is shooting 46.3% overall, 40.5% from three point land, and 83.2% from the free throw line. In his last game, he scored 31 points on 13-of-24 shooting.

Nolan Smith has played in 19 of the Portland Trailblazers 39 games. The Trailblazers are 20-19, fourth place in the Western Conference’s Northwest Division. Smith is averaging 2.5 PPG over 8.4 minutes. In his last game (January 16th after not playing for two weeks), he scored three points and hauled in four rebounds.

Now to the former Blue Devils who have been in the league for awhile.

» Continue reading “Duke in the NBA Update”

The NBA offseason is in full swing and there are a few former Duke players who have been in the news.

Via Duke Blue Planet

The Detroit Pistons signed their 2011 pick, forward Kyle Singler, to a multi-year deal. Singler was a second round pick in 2011 and spent this past season playing in Spain. He signed a three-year deal.

Early on in the summer league season, the Pistons have been impressed with his all-around game. That has increased speculation that Singler could start next season (meaning Tayshawn Prince may be on the trade block).

The Indiana Pacers traded Dahntay Jones (and guard Darren Collison) to the Dallas Mavericks for big man Ian Mahinmi. It is a deal that makes sense for the Mavs, who lost two guards to free agency.

Donnie Nelson, the Mavs president of basketball operations, called Jones “a rugged veteran who will play the kind of tough defense that will fit perfectly in coach (Rick) Carlisle’s system.”

Joining Jones in Dallas will be Elton Brand, who agreed to a one-year deal after spending the last few seasons in Philadelphia. The Sixers put him on amnesty waivers and he was claimed by the Mavericks for a winning bid of $2.1 million. The Sixers still have to pay the remaining balance of the $18.2 million owed Brand in the final year of his contract. Brand said he is excited to play alongside Dirk Nowitzki.

Veteran Grant Hill signed with the LA Clippers, as he was swayed by head coach Vinny Del Negro, Chauncey Billups, and Chris Paul. Hill, who rebounded from ankle injuries to still be a productive player at age 40 with the Phoenix Suns, averaged 10.2 points on 44.6% shooting this past season.

The NBA All-Star Game is Sunday night with the festivities set to begin Friday night. I figured now was a good time to put together another former Duke players in the NBA update.

Dunleavy & Battier via Duke Blue Planet

Mike Dunleavy returned to the Milwaukee Bucks on January 20th and has played in 19 games since. He has played off the bench for the 13-19 Bucks. Dunleavy is averaging 10.6 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. He is shooting 45.8% from the field.

The worst team in the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats had two former Blue Devils in their starting lineup. Their head coach believes that once they can get their entire lineup healthy and playing together, they will be a better team.

Corey Maggette returned to the Bobcats on February 10th and has played in six games since. His best game since returning came in a loss to the Philadelphia Sixers on February 13th. He scored 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, hauled in two rebounds, and had three steals. Overall, Maggette is averaging 12.9 points and 4.8 rebounds for the 4-27 Bobcats.

Now that Maggette is back, Gerald Henderson has been out since February 1st due to a hamstring strain. He hopes to be back after the All-Star break. He was averaging 15 points and 4.4 rebounds a game.

» Continue reading “Blue Devils in the NBA Update”

As I noted yesterday, there are plenty of former Duke players speckled across the NBA. I only covered a few yesterday and today I will cover the rest.

The NBA season begins tomorrow (Christmas Day) and the preseason was shortened to just two games, so here is how the rest of the former Blue Devils did in those two games:

Grant Hill, who re-signed with the Phoenix Suns, played just one preseason game (their last one). He went just 2-for-8 from the field for eight points. He did play 26 minutes.

Dunleavy & Battier via Duke Blue Planet

Mike Dunleavy signed with the Milwaukee Bucks once the lockout was over. He started both of the Bucks preseason games (0-2) and averaged 14.5 points over an average of 27 minutes. He also shot 50% from the field while averaging three rebounds and 3.5 assists. He also did not commit a turnover.

Josh McRoberts signed with the LA Lakers once the lockout was over. In their two games, he came off the bench to go 2-for-2 from the field. He also hauled in three rebounds in about an average of 16.5 minutes.

Sheldon Williams, who just signed with the NJ Nets, may see more playing time with the foot injury to big man Brook Lopez. He started both of the Nets preseason games (0-2) and averaged four points in an average of 22.9 minutes. He shot 50% from the field and hauled in eight rebounds.

Dahntay Jones went just 2-for-11 in the Indiana Pacers’ two preseason games (0-2). That turns out to an average of three points in an average of 14 minutes.

Shane Battier, who just signed with the Miami Heat, did not play in the preseason due to a strained left quad.

It wasn’t just the veterans who had decent preseasons.

Cleveland Cavaliers press conference

The number 1 pick in this past NBA draft, Kyrie Irving, played well coming off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 16 points and 26 minutes in those two games. He did commit five turnovers in his first game (though he scored 21 points), but settled down and did not commit a turnover in his next game. He shot 34.6% while averaging four rebounds and three assists.

Fellow rookie, Nolan Smith, is competing for the backup point guard spot with the Portland Trailblazers. He only averaged nine minutes in their two games for an average of two points. He did however average 2.5 rebounds.

*Tune in Christmas Day to ABC, ESPN, and TNT as the NBA season kicks off with five games throughout the day and night.

Taken by Keith Allison at the Suns-Wizards game on 1/26/09

Now that the NBA lockout is over and the season is finally set to begin on Christmas Day, I can delve a bit into the former Duke players. Preseason games begin tonight. Opening Day for the NBA features five games: Boston @ NY at noon, Miami @ Dallas at 2pm, Chicago @ the Lakers at 5pm, Orlando @ OKC at 8pm, and finally the Clippers @ Golden State at 10:30pm.

I mentioned in an earlier post that Kyle Singler is staying in Spain rather than return to try out for the Detroit Pistons. However there has been a lot of movement regarding former Blue Devils.

Shane Battier began last season playing for the Houston Rockets, before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies near the end of the season. He helped the Grizzlies in the playoffs (he played in 23 games). Battier was a free agent and signed with the defending Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat. In his career, he is averaging 9.6 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, one block, and 1.1 steals per game. So far during training camp, Battier feels comfortable and thinks playing with the big three will give him some open looks.

Grant Hill chose to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns rather than sign elsewhere. He is set to begin his 17th NBA season. Hill agreed to a one year, $6.5 million contract. Over the last four seasons with the Suns, he has averaged 12.4 points per game.

Another free agent, Mike Dunleavy, has signed on with the Milwaukee Bucks, after spending the last five seasons with the Indiana Pacers (he was the third pick in the 2002 draft). Over his NBA career, he has averaged 14 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Dunleavy signed a two year, $7.5 million deal with the Bucks.

» Continue reading “Blue Devils in the NBA”

With the final games in the NBA being played on Wednesday night, it’s time to take a look at how some of the former Dukies did this season.

Let’s take a look at the former Blue Devils whose seasons ended on Wednesday:

Flickr/Keith Allison

*Grant Hill. It amazes me that Hill is still a very productive player in the NBA after all the injuries. He is the elder statesman with the Phoenix Suns (along with point guard Steve Nash). Hill started 80 games for the Suns and averaged 30.1 minutes per game. Not bad for a 38-year old. He averaged 13.2 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, and 4.2 rebounds per game. He shot 39.5% from three-point land and 48.4% overall. He was also an 82.9% free-throw shooter. He scored a season-high 34 points (on 14-of-26 shooting in 44 minutes) at the Indiana Pacers on February 27^th. The Suns finished the season 40-42, six games behind the final seed from the Western Conference (Memphis Grizzlies).

Take a look at Hill’s final post-game interview from Wednesday night’s game.

Check out “24 Hours with Grant Hill” to see how he gets ready for game-day.

*Gerald Henderson. He started 30 of the 68 games he played for the Charlotte Bobcats. The second-year guard averaged 9.6 points per game. He also averaged three rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He was a 45.4% shooter (though just 19.4% from three-point land). He scored a season-high 32 points (on 12-of-22 shooting in 45 minutes) against the Orlando Magic on April 6^th. The Bobcats finished three games behind the 8-seeded Indiana Pacers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Check out what Henderson had to say after final game of the season against the Atlanta Hawks.

*Corey Maggette. He started just 18 of the 68 games he played, but averaged 12 points per game. Now in his 12^th NBA season, Maggette averaged 20.9 minutes per game, along with 3.6 rebounds a game. He shot 45.3% from the field and 83.4% from the free-throw line. He had a season-high 29 points (on 10-of-21 shooting in 44 minutes) at the Toronto Raptors. The Milwaukee Bucks finished two games behind the 8-seeded Pacers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Check out Maggette’s reverse jam against the Minnesota Timberwolves.