Top 10 Duke Players of All Time
Introduction
As a die-hard Duke fan, I’ve spent countless hours watching Duke basketball games and studying the history of the program. Over the years, Duke has produced some of the greatest college basketball players of all time. In this article, I’ll be counting down the top 10 Duke players of all time based on their achievements and impact on the program.
Top Curiosities, Statistics, Facts, and Interesting Information about Top 10 Duke Players of All Time
- Duke has won five national championships, and all five teams were led by at least one player who would eventually be named one of the top 10 players in Duke history.
- All 10 players on this list were consensus All-Americans.
- Five of the 10 players on this list won the Naismith College Player of the Year award.
- Four of the 10 players on this list went on to have successful NBA careers and were named NBA All-Stars.
- The top three players on this list all won national championships at Duke.
10. Elton Brand
Elton Brand was a dominant force for Duke in the late 1990s. In just two seasons, he led Duke to back-to-back Final Four appearances and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in 1999. He was also a consensus first-team All-American and a two-time ACC Player of the Year.
9. Art Heyman
Art Heyman was the first great player in Duke basketball history. He led Duke to its first Final Four appearance in 1963 and was named the ACC Player of the Year that season. He was also a consensus first-team All-American that year and went on to be the first overall pick in the NBA draft.
8. Grant Hill
Grant Hill was a versatile player who could do it all. He led Duke to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992 and was named the ACC Player of the Year in both seasons. He was also a consensus first-team All-American in 1994 and went on to have a successful NBA career.
7. Dick Groat
Dick Groat was a two-sport star at Duke, playing both basketball and baseball. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American in basketball and led Duke to the national championship game in 1952. He went on to have a successful career in both sports, winning a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960.
6. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner is one of the most iconic players in Duke basketball history. He led Duke to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament both years. He was also a consensus first-team All-American in 1992 and went on to have a successful NBA career.
5. J.J. Redick
J.J. Redick was one of the greatest shooters in college basketball history. He holds the ACC record for career points and is second all-time in NCAA history in made three-pointers. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 2006 and won the Naismith College Player of the Year award that year.
4. Johnny Dawkins
Johnny Dawkins was a prolific scorer for Duke in the 1980s. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and led Duke to the national championship game in 1986. He went on to have a successful NBA career and is now the head coach at UCF.
3. Bobby Hurley
Bobby Hurley is arguably the greatest point guard in Duke basketball history. He led Duke to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament in 1992. He is also the NCAA’s all-time leader in assists.
2. Shane Battier
Shane Battier was the heart and soul of Duke’s 2001 national championship team. He was a consensus first-team All-American that season and won the Naismith College Player of the Year award. He was also a two-time National Defensive Player of the Year and went on to have a successful NBA career.
1. Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson may only have played one season at Duke, but he made a huge impact in that one season. He was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 2019. He led Duke to the Elite Eight that season and was the first overall pick in the NBA draft.
FAQs
- Q: Who is the greatest Duke basketball player of all time?
- Q: How many Duke players have won the Naismith College Player of the Year award?
- Q: Who is the all-time leading scorer in Duke basketball history?
A: That honor goes to Zion Williamson, who had one of the most dominant seasons in college basketball history in 2019.
A: Five Duke players have won the award: Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Jason Williams, J.J. Redick, and Zion Williamson.
A: J.J. Redick is the all-time leading scorer in Duke basketball history with 2,769 points.