Grayson Allen is officially back in North Carolina, and the former Duke Blue Devil could not be happier to return to a place that holds some of the most important memories of his basketball career.
After spending the first eight seasons of his NBA career away from the state, Allen was traded this summer from the Phoenix Suns to the Charlotte Hornets. The move brings him back to the Carolinas and gives him an opportunity to reconnect with a basketball community that played a major role in shaping his career.
Allen will now begin the 2026-27 NBA season in Charlotte alongside former Duke players Sion James and Kon Knueppel, creating an intriguing connection between the Hornets and one of college basketball’s most recognizable programs.
Speaking about his return to North Carolina, Allen reflected fondly on his time at Duke and the lasting impact those four years had on his life.
“Being at Duke was maybe some of the best four years of my life. Hopefully I run into a lot of Duke fans here now that I’m back in North Carolina,” Allen said.
For Allen, returning to the state is about much more than basketball. His four seasons at Duke helped establish him as one of the most recognizable players of his era, while his relationship with the school and its fan base has remained strong throughout his professional career.
Allen arrived at Duke as a highly regarded recruit and eventually became a key piece of Mike Krzyzewski’s teams. Over four seasons, he made 142 appearances and averaged 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game.
His sophomore season was particularly memorable. Allen emerged as one of the nation’s most dangerous offensive players, averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. His combination of shooting, athleticism and competitiveness made him one of the most difficult players in the country to defend.
He also played a central role in Duke’s national championship run as a freshman, helping the Blue Devils capture the 2015 NCAA Tournament title. That championship became one of the defining accomplishments of his college career.
Now, more than a decade after beginning his journey in Durham, Allen has the chance to experience North Carolina from an entirely different perspective.
Rather than returning as a college player preparing for another season at Cameron Indoor Stadium, he will enter the state as an established NBA veteran preparing for another chapter of his professional career.
There is also one part of North Carolina life Allen is particularly excited to rediscover: the food.
The sharpshooter admitted that he has missed Southern barbecue during his years away from the state.
“Some of the North Carolina barbeque I’ve missed. It’ll be good to go visit some of those spots,” Allen said.
That comment should resonate with plenty of North Carolina basketball fans, but the biggest attraction will undoubtedly be seeing Allen back on the court.
His arrival gives the Hornets an experienced perimeter player who can provide shooting and veteran leadership. More importantly for Duke supporters, it gives them another reason to keep an eye on Charlotte throughout the upcoming NBA season.
The Hornets are one of three NBA teams currently featuring three former Duke players on their roster, joining the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. The Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors each have two Duke alumni.
For Allen, however, the return is more personal than statistical.
North Carolina was where he developed into a college star, won a national championship and created memories that helped define his basketball journey. Eight NBA seasons later, he is finally coming home.
And judging by his comments, Allen is ready to embrace it.
With Duke fans potentially filling arenas across the state to watch him play again, the former Blue Devil could be entering one of the most nostalgic chapters of his career.
After years away, Grayson Allen is back in North Carolina—and he clearly has plenty of reasons to be excited about it.
