Duke NBA Alumni: A Legacy of One-and-Done Stars

Duke University has long been a breeding ground for NBA talent. In 1999, Corey Maggette marked a significant turning point, becoming the first Duke basketball player to leave for the pros after just one year, a phenomenon now known as "one-and-done." Over two decades later, the trend has solidified, with players like Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin, and Trevor Keels pushing the count to 26 by the 2022 NBA Draft.

Since 1999, Duke has averaged 1.1 one-and-done players per year. This number increased to 2.0 per year since 2011, and 2.9 per year since 2015. It's fair to say that the school became "One-And-Done U" across the last decade of Mike Krzyzewski's 42 seasons at the helm.

Now that Coach K has retired, it's only fitting to rank his one-and-done players over the years while emphasizing their contributions and the Blue Devils' success during their brief college careers, heavily factoring in their memorability from filling up boxscores, wowing crowds, coming up clutch, etc.

This ranking isn't purely a talent show, though. No, there's much more to it than that.

For instance, the penalty here is unapologetically severe for guys whose lone seasons in Durham either ended prematurely due to abrupt quitting (see Jalen Johnson) or got severely truncated due to a lingering injury (see Kyrie Irving).

Read also: Scoring Duke Seats

Ranking Duke Basketball's One-and-Dones

Here is a ranking and recap of every one-and-done in Duke basketball history…

26. Jalen Johnson (2020-21)

Averages: 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.2 blocks
Games Played: 13
Duke's Record: 13-11 (9-9 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Second Round (without Jalen Johnson)
NCAA Tournament: N/A
NBA Draft: No. 20 overall
Summary: Jalen Johnson quit the team mid-season and moved back home. He's the only Duke one-and-done ever to do that. So despite the former five-star recruit putting up better averages than some on this list, it wouldn't be fair to place him above any talents who stuck it out until the end. After all, he's technically more of a half-and-done than one-and-done.

25. Harry Giles (2016-17)

Averages: 3.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.7 blocks
Games Played: 26
Duke's Record: 28-9 (11-7 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Champions
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Round of 32
NBA Draft: No. 22 overall
Summary: Unfortunately for Harry Giles, who once ranked No. 1 in the 2016 class, knee injuries in high school took away from his explosiveness and limited his production at Duke. Fortunately, the potential he showed early on as a prep translated into an NBA contract. And it's not as if he was worthless as a Blue Devil; his performances against rival UNC helped fuel two memorable late-game comebacks.

24. DJ Steward (2020-21)

Averages: 13.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks
Games Played: 24
Duke's Record: 13-11 (9-9 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Second Round
NCAA Tournament: N/A
NBA Draft: N/A
Summary: DJ Steward was an undersized two-guard on arguably the most disappointing Duke team in the Mike Krzyzewski era. So his decision to turn pro was puzzling. He might have become a beloved sophomore with fans in the stands; instead, he left after a one-and-done campaign that coincided with COVID restrictions, dinging his memorability. He has since never played in an NBA game.

23. Frank Jackson (2016-17)

Averages: 10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
Games Played: 36
Duke's Record: 28-9 (11-7 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Champions
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Round of 32
NBA Draft: No. 31 overall
Summary: Duke could have used a pure point guard in 2016-17. And while Frank Jackson boasted the necessary speed to play the position, his less-than-stellar numbers in the steals and assists columns prevented him from shining there. Some claim he should have come back for a second year to develop more floor-general skills, for he now lacks an NBA contract, seemingly due to these shortcomings.

22. Trevon Duval (2017-18)

Averages: 10.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.1 blocks
Games Played: 37
Duke's Record: 29-8 (13-5)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Semifinals
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Elite Eight
NBA Draft: N/A
Summary: Trevon Duval rubbed many fans the wrong way by 1) posting his highlight dunk to social media shortly after the loss at UNC and 2) not embracing "The Brotherhood" after he left. That said, it's worth pointing out that only Tre Jones has averaged more assists per game in a season since Duval skipped town. Yet he remains one of only two Duke one-and-dones in history to go undrafted.

21. Kyrie Irving (2010-11)

Averages: 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks
Games Played: 11
Duke's Record: 32-5 (13-3 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Champions (without Kyrie Irving playing)
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Sweet 16
NBA Draft: No. 1 overall
Summary: Kyrie Irving did not play an ACC game. And some would say his return from injury just in time for the NCAA Tournament adversely impacted the team's flow, leading to the wheels coming off against Arizona in the Sweet 16. So even though his zippiness and sizzling displays across the Blue Devils' first eight games of the season were something to behold, 11 total appearances aren't sufficient to rank high here.

20. Cassius Stanley (2019-20)

Averages: 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks
Games Played: 29
Duke's Record: 25-6 (15-5 ACC)
ACC Tournament: N/A
NCAA Tournament: N/A
NBA Draft: No. 54 overall
Summary: It must be weird immediately following Zion Williamson as Duke's high-flying crowd-pleaser. But Cassius Stanley did so admirably, even breaking Williamson's program-record vertical leap before delivering a wealth of highlights, especially in transition and on the receiving end of alley-oops. Sadly, Stanley didn't get a chance to fly in the postseason due to COVID wiping that out for everybody.

19. Trevor Keels (2021-22)

Averages: 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.1 blocks
Games Played: 36
Duke's Record: 32-7 (16-4 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Championship Game
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Final Four
NBA Draft: No. 42 overall
Summary: In Duke's first game of the season, a win over Kentucky in the Champions Classic, Trevor Keels raised expectations by dropping 25 points and tallying three steals. But after a sensational start to his one-and-done campaign, the sturdy shooting guard became more and more inconsistent as the season progressed and scored in double figures only twice across the team's final seven games.

18. AJ Griffin (2021-22)

Averages: 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks
Games Played: 39
Duke's Record: 32-7 (16-4 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Championship Game
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Final Four
NBA Draft: No. 16 overall
Summary: AJ Griffin's defense could have been better, and he wasn't much of a facilitator on offense. But some blame for his shortcomings belongs to his missed practice time early on while recovering from an injury. And he was a critical piece to a formidable Blue Devil bunch, particularly as a potent catch-and-shoot 3-point weapon, knocking down 44.7 percent of his attempts beyond the arc.

17. Cam Reddish (2018-19)

Averages: 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks
Games Played: 36
Duke's Record: 32-6 (14-4 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Champions
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Elite Eight
NBA Draft: No. 10 overall
Summary: Cam Reddish was part of one of the most exciting Duke basketball shows of all time, starting alongside fellow one-and-done sensations Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett. He was a slick, lengthy defender. And his game-winning 3-pointer at Florida State will forever live in Blue Devil lore. That said, fair or not, the overall performances of Williamson and Barrett often overshadowed those of Reddish.

16. Gary Trent Jr. (2017-18)

Averages: 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.1 blocks
Games Played: 37
Duke's Record: 29-8 (13-5 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Semifinals
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Elite Eight
NBA Draft: No. 37 overall
Summary: What Gary Trent Jr. lacked in speed, he made up for with his quick instincts and high IQ on both ends of the floor. And that continues to be the case in his thus-far-impressive NBA career. At Duke, he shot 40.2 percent from downtown and 87.6 percent from the charity stripe, putting him in the top tier among Blue Devil snipers in recent years. Plus, he was a strong rebounder for his position.

15. Corey Maggette (1998-99)

Averages: 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks
Games Played: 39
Duke's Record: 37-2 (16-0 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Champions
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Championship Game
NBA Draft: No. 13 overall
Summary: On any other team, Corey Maggette would have been a starter and probably a leading star as an ultra-athletic playmaker. But his one-and-done campaign â again, Duke's first â coincided with one of the most talented rosters in program history, even though it fell one win shy of a national title. Despite averaging only 17.7 minutes, Maggette was quite impactful and entertaining as a sixth man.

14. Austin Rivers (2011-12)

Averages: 15.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.0 blocks
Games Played: 34
Duke's Record: 27-7 (13-3 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Semifinals
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Round of 64
NBA Draft: No. 10 overall
Summary: On one hand, Austin Rivers is responsible for the all-time most satisfying 3-point splash in a Duke victory on the home court of rival UNC. On the other hand, his Blue Devils lost in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 64 to No. 15 seed Lehigh, the lowest seed to ever defeat the program. His scoring ability was of the top-shelf variety, but his passing and defense were far from it.

13. Wendell Carter Jr. (2017-18)

Averages: 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.1 blocks, 0.8 steals
Games Played: 37
Duke's Record: 29-8 (13-5 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Semifinals
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Elite Eight
NBA Draft: No. 7 overall
Summary: If not for Marvin Bagley III reclassifying to join the roster, Wendell Carter Jr. may have flirted with a 20-10 average in the scoring and rebounding departments, thereby climbing significantly higher than where he is on this list. Still, Carter started all 37 games for the Blue Devils and complemented Bagley well as a momentum-changing weapon in the paint on both ends of the floor.

12. Brandon Ingram (2015-16)

Averages: 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.4 blocks
Games Played: 36
Duke's Record: 25-11 (11-7 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Quarterfinals
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Sweet 16
NBA Draft: No. 2 overall
Summary: Brandon Ingram's Blue Devils weren't a complete bust. After all, they captured a thrilling comeback victory in Chapel Hill and advanced to the Sweet 16. Sure, the former five-star prep from North Carolina was a memorable one-and-done as an electric scorer and sly defender. But consider the lack of postseason trophies and 11 losses altogether, tied for the most of any Duke squad this century.

11. Vernon Carey Jr. (2019-20)

Averages: 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 blocks
Games Played: 31
Duke's Record: 25-6 (15-5 ACC)
ACC Tournament: N/A
NCAA Tournament: N/A
NBA Draft: No. 32 overall
Summary: It's not Vernon Carey Jr.'s fault that the 2019-20 Duke team did not play a single postseason game. No, blame that on COVID. Nevertheless, with nothing more to judge than a regular season â albeit a prolific one that ended with a win over UNC â it's difficult to justify putting the dominant bruiser above anyone in the top 10 here, even though these next two didn't last long in March Madness.

10. Jayson Tatum (2016-17)

Averages: 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
Games Played: 29
Duke's Record: 28-9 (11-7 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Champions
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Round of 32
NBA Draft: No. 3 overall
Summary: Jayson Tatum had more NBA-ready moves than most on this list; those moves certainly paid off for him in the NBA Draft. And it was a joy to watch the oh-so-silky forward in action as a Blue Devil. Therefore, he deserves to be in the top 10 here. However, that Duke team's Round of 32 loss to South Carolina, paired with his absence due to injury early in the season, leaves him no higher than No. 10.

9. Jabari Parker (2013-14)

Averages: 19.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks
Games Played: 35
Duke's Record: 26-9 (13-5 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Championship Game
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Round of 64
NBA Draft: No. 2 overall
Summary: There's no doubt Jabari Parker would be a worthy candidate to land in the top five here had he and the 2013-14 Blue Devils advanced deep into the NCAA Tournament. As it is, after winning ACC Rookie of the Year and ending up a consensus first-team All-American, the multifaceted scoring machine could not keep Duke from losing to Mercer in the Round of 64.

8. Luol Deng (2003-04)

Averages: 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
Games Played: 37
Duke's Record: 31-6 (13-3 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Championship Game
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Final Four
NBA Draft: No. 7 overall
Summary: Like Corey Maggette five years earlier, Luol Deng was a one-and-done member of one of the best Duke teams not to win a national championship (both the 1998-99 and 2003-04 teams fell to UConn). Unlike Maggette, though, Deng was a full-time starter and one of the top few talents on his squad, starring as a long-limbed forward alongside sharpshooter JJ Redick and big man Shelden Williams.

7. Justise Winslow (2014-15)

Averages: 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.9 blocks
Games Played: 39
Duke's Record: 35-4 (15-3 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Championship Game
NCAA Tournament: Champions
NBA Draft: No. 10 overall
Summary: After a lackluster performance in Duke's first NCAA Tournament game, Justise Winslow became one of the Blue Devils' most consistent playmakers in their hunt for the program's fifth national championship. For the season, the chiseled forward was perhaps the team's most complete defender and most efficient all-around scorer, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from deep.

6. Paolo Banchero (2021-22)

Averages: 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.9 blocks
Games Played: 39
Duke's Record: 32-7 (16-4 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Championship Game
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Final Four
NBA Draft: No. 1 overall
Summary: Consider the pressure that was on Paolo Banchero's shoulders as the most heralded player on Mike Krzyzewski's final roster. Not only did the Seattle native still live up to his five-star billing â and then some â but he also embraced being a Blue Devil. If not for losses to UNC in Coach K's final home game and at the Final Four, Banchero might have landed a notch or two higher on this list.

5. Marvin Bagley III (2017-18)

Averages: 21.0 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks
Games Played: 33
Duke's Record: 29-8 (13-5 ACC)
ACC Tournament: Lost in Semifinals
NCAA Tournament: Lost in Elite Eight
NBA Draft: No. 2 overall
Summary: Marvin Bagley III deservedl…

With the college and NBA seasons just around the corner, we thought this would be a good time to update the olâ Blue Devils in the NBA list.

Duke's Enduring NBA Presence

Duke players are now known as the Brotherhood and as of now, the dawn of the season, by our count, there are 25 players in the league.

Four teams have at least three former Blue Devils - Charlotte, Dallas, Orlando and Phoenix - while Toronto has two.

With anywhere from three to six players projected to be drafted next year (Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Nik Khamenia and Dame Sarr, depending on how things work out for each), the Brotherhood isnât sitting still.

Read also: The Power of Duke Alumni

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