March Madness has arrived, college basketball’s chaos-riddled National Championship tournament, with the Duke Blue Devils the number one seed and favourite to take home the title.
Duke are led by head coach Jon Scheyer, the former team captain who took over from legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski – a.k.a Coach K – in 2021. But according to one veteran, Scheyer’s coaching career began earlier than intended, after an Australian basketball legend ended his chances of becoming an NBA player. How Australian basketball icon ended Duke coach’s NBA career
Before Jon Scheyer was the head coach of the title-favourite Duke University, he was an esteemed alumnus, a former All-American, an ACC Tournament MVP in 2009 and a National Champion in 2010.After going undrafted in 2010, Scheyer attempted to take the G League route where according to Patrick Beverly, his chances of making the league were ruined by Joe Ingles.
“I got a chance for me and him to be actually be on the same team,” Beverly said during a recent episode of The Pat Bev Podcast. “We’re in the Miami Heat together, we’re trying to make it through the Summer League together, we’re on the same court together.
“Someone throws an outlet, a guy reaches in by the name of Joe Ingles, pokes him in the eye, legally blind, can never play basketball again.
“Had to get off on a helicopter to another hospital just to fix his eye, last time he played basketball.”
While Ingles did injure Scheyer’s eye, the current Duke coach actually was able to return to basketball following a period of recovery, going on to play for D League team the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, before a stint with Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, before finishing his playing career with Spanish side Gran Canaria.
