The Duke Blue Devils are already turning heads early in the 2025 college basketball season — and now, their legendary former coach Mike Krzyzewski has dropped a bombshell that’s got every Duke fan talking.
Yes, that Mike Krzyzewski — Coach K himself — the man who built Duke into a college basketball empire, has just revealed who he believes is Duke’s best player this season. And he didn’t hesitate for even a second.
According to Coach K, the future of Duke basketball already has a name: Cameron Boozer.
THE LEGEND SPEAKS — AND EVERYONE LISTENS
On Monday, during an appearance on CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein podcast, the retired Hall of Famer didn’t waste time with pleasantries. He dove straight into what everyone wanted to know — who leads this year’s sixth-ranked Blue Devils, who are off to a red-hot 2–0 start.
“It’s different than last year, which it should be,” Krzyzewski said with that trademark calm confidence. “I think we’re gonna be really good. Cam is our best player. He’s way ahead of his age. He has the body of a man. As big as he is, he has great feet… and he understands the game. He’s really an intelligent player.”
Coming from a man who coached more than a dozen NBA All-Stars and countless college legends, that’s no small compliment.
But Coach K didn’t stop there.
“I haven’t seen all the players in college basketball yet,” he continued, “but Cam has to be as unique as anyone — and we’ll see if he’s better than everyone. He rebounds like crazy, he’s a double-double guy, and he can really pass too. Don’t be shocked if we see his first triple-double soon.”
That’s a bold statement — and it sent shockwaves through the Duke community.
THE CROWN PASSED FROM FLAGG TO BOOZER
Just last season, Duke was led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, who stormed into college basketball as the No. 1 overall recruit and eventually became the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. His dominance carried Duke to the Final Four, alongside stars like Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, all of whom are now first-round NBA talents.
So for Coach K to say that Cameron Boozer — a freshman just two games into his Duke career — is already the best player on the team? That’s monumental.
It’s also a sign of how quickly Boozer has adapted to the college level.
CAMERON BOOZER: BUILT DIFFERENT
Through just two games, Boozer is averaging 20.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game — elite numbers for a freshman barely old enough to vote.
But the stats only tell half the story. Boozer plays with a maturity that reminds Duke fans of the greats — Grant Hill’s poise, Zion Williamson’s physicality, and Carlos Boozer’s toughness (yes, his father’s).
Watching him on the court, it’s hard to believe he’s only 18. He controls the tempo, reads defenses like a veteran, and makes everyone around him better. He’s not just scoring — he’s leading.
Even Jon Scheyer, Duke’s current head coach and Krzyzewski’s hand-picked successor, admitted Boozer is “already playing like an upperclassman.”
THE BOOZER BLOODLINE RUNS DEEP
Basketball greatness runs in Cameron’s DNA. His father, Carlos Boozer, was an All-American at Duke before becoming a two-time NBA All-Star. His twin brother, Cayden Boozer, is also a Blue Devil — and a key piece of the team’s early success.
Cayden may not draw the same spotlight as Cameron (yet), but his numbers — 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game — show just how vital he is to Duke’s rhythm. Together, the Boozer twins are giving Duke fans flashbacks of the days when family legacies like the Plumlees dominated Cameron Indoor.
This time, though, the ceiling might be even higher.
Because while Cooper Flagg was last season’s once-in-a-decade star, Cameron Boozer feels like the next era of Duke basketball — an era built on intelligence, power, and confidence.
COACH K’S BLESSING — THE ULTIMATE SEAL OF APPROVAL
Let’s be clear — Mike Krzyzewski doesn’t hand out compliments lightly.
During his 42 seasons at Duke, he coached Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, J.J. Redick, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero — and he saw more talent pass through Durham than perhaps any coach in NCAA history.
So when he says a player is “way ahead of his age” and “our best player,” that means something.
It’s not hype. It’s recognition. It’s respect.
Krzyzewski knows greatness when he sees it — and his words carry a weight few others in basketball can match.
When Coach K speaks, the entire college basketball world listens.
A DIFFERENT DUKE — SAME DOMINANCE
What makes this year’s Blue Devils so intriguing is how different they look compared to last season.
Under Jon Scheyer, Duke isn’t trying to copy last year’s Final Four formula. Instead, the program has evolved — blending elite freshmen like Boozer with experienced returnees like Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Maliq Brown, and Patrick Ngongba.
Add in other newcomers such as Dame Sarr and Nikolas Khamenia, and you’ve got a rotation that’s deep, versatile, and hungry.
Scheyer himself seems to have fully stepped into his identity as head coach. No longer “the guy after Coach K,” he’s simply the guy — and this Duke team reflects that. Confident. Fast. Connected.
It’s a team that looks capable of not only winning the ACC but also cutting down the nets in April.
And if Cameron Boozer continues on this trajectory, it’s not hard to imagine Duke right back in the Final Four conversation or even holding the championship trophy come spring.
BOOZER’S IMPACT GOES BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Ask anyone around the program, and they’ll tell you Boozer’s impact isn’t just about his numbers — it’s about his presence.
He communicates constantly on defense. He celebrates his teammates’ success more than his own. And he carries himself like someone who’s been waiting for this moment his whole life.
“He’s humble, but he’s got that edge,” one Duke assistant reportedly said. “When the lights come on, he wants to dominate. You can’t teach that.”
That mindset is exactly what has made Duke special for decades — a relentless pursuit of excellence that doesn’t fade even after legends leave.
A NEW ERA BEGINS IN DURHAM
In many ways, Coach K’s words are more than praise — they’re a passing of the torch.
From Laettner to Battier, from Redick to Zion, from Flagg to Boozer — every Duke generation has had its signature star. And now, Cameron Boozer is next in line.
But the scary thing? He might be the most complete of them all.
He’s a scorer. A rebounder. A passer. A leader.
And as Coach K said, “He understands the game.”
That might be the most powerful compliment of all — because understanding the game is what separates good players from legends.
DUKE’S FUTURE LOOKS SCARY GOOD
If the first two games are any indication, Duke’s ceiling this season is sky-high.
With Boozer setting the tone, Cayden providing balance, and Foster and Evans stabilizing the backcourt, the Blue Devils are built to dominate both ends of the floor.
Opponents are already realizing this isn’t just another “young Duke team.” This is a complete squad — one that plays like veterans, thinks like champions, and attacks like sharks smelling blood.
The fans can feel it. Cameron Indoor is rocking again. And the Blue Devils’ roar is back to echoing across college basketball.
COACH K’S FINAL WORDS SAY IT ALL
Mike Krzyzewski may be retired, but his connection to Duke runs deeper than ever. He’s seen programs rise and fall, dynasties come and go — but when he watches this team, he sees something familiar.
He sees that same spark that made Duke basketball an institution.
And with Cameron Boozer leading the charge, he sees the future.
As Coach K put it simply:
“He’s way ahead of his age. Cam is our best player.”
That’s all anyone needed to hear.
Because when the greatest coach in college basketball history speaks with that much certainty… the rest of the country better start paying attention.
