Former Duke guard, NCAA Champion, and newest Portland Trailblazers guard Nolan Smith has debuted his new website this past week.

It is a pretty cool site with links to both his Facebook and Twitter sites. There are also links to his foundation with his sister (the Sydney and Nolan Smith Foundation) and the Deuce Brand (you really have to check out their watches).

There are pictures from his playing days at Duke and a good one of him on graduation day with teammates Kyle Singler and Casey Peters. You can also check out videos of Nolan like the one below:

Not sure how much Nolan will play this season with the Trailblazers, but I’m sure he’ll be Tweeting about every moment (follow him @NdotSmitty). They began the NBA season Monday night against the visiting Philadelphia Sixers.

Duke Video Sunday showed former Blue Devil Lance Thomas during training camp with the New Orleans Hornets in the NBA. He played in two preseason games for them and did pretty well.

Coach K with Lance Thomas via Duke Blue Planet

Turns out, he made the team. After playing last season in the Developmental League of the NBA (NBDL), he will begin this season in the NBA as a rookie.

It was announced via the Austin Toros Twitter site late Saturday night. What a nice early Christmas present for Lance!

The Hornets open their NBA season today (Monday) against the Phoenix Suns and former Blue Devil Grant Hill.

*Duke now has the most former players in the NBA at 16 with the addition of Thomas.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Since most will be spending the day/night with friends and family, I figured I’d just give you a video of former Duke basketball player Lance Thomas, who was a big contributor to the 2010 National Championship team. He signed with the New Orleans Hornets for training camp and actually started both of their preseason games. He averaged 3.5 points in 22.5 minutes. In his first game, he hauled in eight rebounds while scoring seven points in 37 minutes.

Take a look at Lance during training camp:

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.

With the NBA lockout dragging into the start of the season (but finally over), teams played just two preseason games before Opening Day on Christmas. There are former Duke Blue Devils speckled all over the league.

Carlos Boozer against the Wizards (Flickr/Keith Allison)

The Chicago Bulls have two former Dukies on their roster, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng. Both started the two preseason games for the 2-0 Bulls. Boozer averaged 15.5 points over an average of 28 minutes. He averaged 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 51.9%. Deng averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds over 33 mpg. He shot 47.6%. In the Bulls first game, Deng had five turnovers but none in the second game.

The Orlando Magic were 1-1 in the preseason with former Blue Devils JJ Redick and Chris Duhon getting playing time. Redick averaged 15 points in 26 mpg. He shot 44% from the field and 57% from three point land. Duhon averaged 17 minutes and just two points.

The Charlotte Bobcats are 1-1 this preseason with Gerald Henderson starting at guard. He averaged five points over an average of 25.5 minutes. He also shot 50%. Corey Maggette sat out the preseason with back spasms.

The Philadelphia Sixers are 2-0 this preseason with Elton Brand in the starting lineup. He averaged 9.5 points and five rebounds in 22.5 mpg. He also shot 53.8% from the field.

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”

Tuesday night was the NBA draft lottery, which was held live on ESPN. The Cleveland Cavaliers earned the number one pick. The Minnesota Timberwolves have the second pick.

Won’t Kyrie Irving look great passing to Kevin Love in Minnesota? The former Duke Blue Devil was in person at the lottery as he gets psyched for the upcoming NBA draft. Many believe that the Cavs will choose between Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, who made a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament. Most believe Irving will be the number pick, even after playing in just 11 games this past season at Duke due to his foot injury.

The NBA draft will be held on June 23rd.

There has been a lot of talk about who should go number one, so sit back and relax this morning and check out some good reading:

Cavs win No. 1 pick: Wolves 2nd ESPN (there’s some really good video coverage)

Chad Ford’s Mock Draft, Version 2.0 ESPN

Who would you pick in the NBA draft? ESPN

Hopes high for lottery teams despite dearth of Draft talent NBA.com

Down year for US opens Draft door for internationals NBA.com

Sorry for the delay in my former Duke NBA playoff player update. I just couldn’t stay awake for the finish of the OKC-Memphis game last night.

After letting Memphis stay close for much of the game, the Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 111-102. The Thunder did not want to leave OKC down 0-2 heading to Memphis. The Thunder again received 20+ points from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but received 21 points off the bench from James Harden. For the Grizzlies, five players scored in double-figures, but just one (Mike Conley) scored more than 20 points. Former Blue Devil Shane Battier scored just four points off the bench on 2-of-4 shooting over just 14 minutes.

OKC wins Game 2, 111-102 NBA.com

Can Grizzlies win it all? Bleacher Report

Grizzlies are Upstarts, not Champions CBS New York

Thunder even series with Grizzlies Fox Sports

Grizzlies owner admits they’ve been lucky Ball Don’t Lie

One day after the Memphis Grizzlies surprised OKC, the Atlanta Hawks surprised the top-seeded Chicago Bulls. In Chicago, the Hawks won 103-95 behind 34 points from Joe Johnson. Bulls guard Derrick Rose was named MVP of the league, the youngest to ever be honored with that award.

Former Duke Blue Devil Carlos Boozer, who has been hindered by turf toe, scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting over 34 minutes. He hauled in eight rebounds and dished out three assists. Luol Deng, another former Blue Devil, scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting over 44 minutes. He had six rebounds and two assists.

*Game 2 will be in Chicago on Wednesday night.

Atlanta wins Game 1 on the road NBA.com

Johnson pours in 34 as Hawks surprise Rose, Bulls in opener USA Today

Bulls drop Game 1 to Hawks Chicago Breaking News

Hawks vs. Bulls Game One Live Discussion Kissing the Rim

High time fans, media give Deng his due Chicago Sun-Times

Boozer better, plans to suit up for Game 1 NBA.com

It took Memphis six games to dispatch the number one seed San Antonio Spurs. Their reward? To play the Oklahoma City Thunder just two days later.

The Grizzlies didn’t show any signs of fatigue as they beat the Thunder in Oklahoma City 114-101. Despite getting 33 points and 11 rebounds from Kevin Durant and 29 points from Russell Westbrook (though he took 23 shots and turned the ball over seven times), the Thunder had no answer for the Grizzlies big men as Zach Randolph scored a playoff career-high of 34 points and Marc Gausol scored 20 points. The Grizzlies forced 18 OKC turnovers (which led to 23 points). Randolph had 10 rebounds and three steals. Gasol had 13 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.

Former Duke Blue Devil Shane Battier scored 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes. He also had five rebounds and two steals.

Memphis Surprise  & Take Game One Against OKC 114-101 Aerys Sports

Grizzlies’ offense overwhelms OKC ESPN

Grizzlies big men think outside the paint TrueHoop

Memphis takes Game 1, 114-101 NBA.com

Grizzlies are no longer Cinderella’s Instant Analysis