Former Duke stars are already making noise as the NBA season gets rolling, and there’s plenty to watch as October opens up.
The biggest headline belongs to Cooper Flagg, who is coming off a 2025-26 rookie season that ended with the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award after he was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg turned in a major first year and is now aiming to build on it.
On Thursday, he also got a notable off-court reveal when New Balance unveiled the logo for his signature shoe line. The design features a “CF” and draws from his home state of Maine, with pine tree cutouts on the “C.”
Cam Boozer has wasted no time getting going in the preseason. He has scored in double figures in both games so far, opening with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists before following that with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists against the Orlando Magic.
His next test comes this week against Caleb Wilson and the Chicago Bulls, the No. 4 overall pick. The two already met in the NBA Summer League opener in Las Vegas.
Kyrie Irving is also back on the court. May told reporters it will depend on how Irving’s body feels along with the jet lag the team could have from traveling.
With the college season still a month away for Duke, the Blue Devils are set to begin their exhibition schedule this week, giving Jon Scheyer his first look at this group in the 2026-27 season. Meanwhile, Duke’s NBA presence keeps growing, and these former Blue Devils are already part of the conversation.
In Other News...
Duke Faces Its First Real ACC Road Test At Georgia Tech
Dukes early progress is about to meet a different kind of exam. After opening conference play with a win, the Blue Devils head to Georgia Tech for their first ACC road game, a setting that should say plenty about how far this group has come through its first four contests. The offense has found a steady rhythm around running back Nate Sheppard, while the defense has given the team a firm base to build on.
Georgia Tech brings the sort of challenge that can expose whether improvement has really taken hold, especially away from home. Duke has been strong in the second half of games and has carried momentum from week to week, but the next step is proving that same formula travels in conference play. For a team trying to establish itself in the ACC, this is the kind of road test that starts to separate a good opening from something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Faces One Big Test As Jon Scheyer Reloads Again
Jon Scheyer is heading into his fifth season with Duke, and the program hardly looks like it needs a reboot. The Blue Devils have gone 70-7 over the past two seasons, stacked three straight Elite Eight runs and reached the Final Four in 2025, all while Scheyer has kept the standard at a level that feels familiar for Durham.
The challenge now is that the next version has to prove itself almost immediately. Dukes roster mix is tilted toward continuity, with four of last seasons top six scorers back and nine newcomers joining the fold, but the schedule is loaded with high-end tests and the margin for another deep March run may be thinner than it has looked in recent years. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Wing Rotation Is Taking Shape Around One Freshman
As Duke heads into preseason work, the wing picture is starting to come into focus with Bryson Howard likely beginning his freshman year as a reserve behind sophomore Dame Sarr. Sarr handled most of the starts last season, and the two have already built a close bond as Howard settles into college basketball, with Sarr helping guide him through the adjustment. For a program that always has eyes on how new pieces fit, the early read is that this pairing could matter as much for chemistry as for rotation order.
Jon Scheyer has already pointed to the freshmens personalities and the value they can bring without needing to make an immediate historic splash. Howards role may be limited at first, but Duke will be watching how quickly he can translate that promise into dependable minutes when the season opens against Belmont. For now, the Blue Devils appear to have one clear veteran anchor on the wing and one freshman ready to learn in his shadow, which is often how these things start before the responsibilities expand. [Read more 🡒]