With the 2026-27 season approaching fast, ESPN ranked the top-100 NBA players. As to be expected, Duke had plenty of representatives, including recent No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer and last year’s Rookie of the Year Award winner Cooper Flagg. Here is where the rest of the former Blue Devils ended up.
In seven NBA seasons, former No. 3 overall pick RJ Barrett has averaged a respectable 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.7 steals per game. During last year’s playoffs, Barrett provided his hometown with an unforgettable moment, nailing a game-winner to force Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Moving forward, Barrett will continue to serve as a third scorer, now behind Scottie Barnes and recent trade acquisition Kawhi Leonard.
85. Cameron Boozer
Of all rookies ranked on ESPN’s list, Cameron Boozer was third-highest, as he was on draft night. However, with a clear runway in Memphis, Boozer may be primed to have the strongest season among players in his draft class. Currently in a rebuilding phase, the Grizzlies aren’t expected to make a postseason push after finishing 13th in the Western Conference last season.
65. Brandon Ingram
Now in Los Angeles for the second time in his NBA career, Brandon Ingram will have a chance to prove himself once more as a No. 1 option alongside veterans like Darius Garland, Bradley Beal and Rui Hachimura. Over 572 career games in 10 seasons, Ingram has averaged 19.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks.
51. Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson was durable for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2025-26 season, appearing in 62 games, the second-most of his six-year career. However, he wasn’t able to showcase the exceptional explosiveness and scoring that Duke fans are used to seeing. Williamson averaged a career-low in points (21) and rebounds (5.7) to go along with 3.2 assists, one steal and 0.5 blocks.
48. Kon Knueppel
After being unranked ahead of his rookie season, Kon Knueppel jumped all the way up to the No. 48 spot after leading the league in 3-pointers made with the Charlotte Hornets. Knueppel appeared in 81 of 82 games and averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.7 steals while shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc. With these numbers, he joined two Hall of Famers in NBA history.
39. Kyrie Irving
While Kyrie Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season due to ACL rehab, the former No. 1 overall pick is one of the league’s greatest point guards when healthy. Throughout his 14-year career, the nine-time All-Star has been a clutch performer, to say the least, and holds averages of 23.7 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
36. Paolo Banchero
Like many other former No. 1 picks from Duke, Paolo Banchero has been a steady scorer since joining the Orlando Magic. In four seasons, Banchero has one All-Star appearance to his name, averaging 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks over four seasons. In last year’s playoffs, Banchero nearly led the Magic to a Game 7 victory over the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
23. Cooper Flagg
Ever since high school, scouts have been prepared to see Cooper Flagg breakout at the NBA level. He did just that a season ago, earning Rookie of the Year honors over the aforementioned Knueppel, while averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks. Now in tandem with Kyrie Irving, Flagg will benefit from playing with a secondary scorer.
22. Jalen Johnson
Of all incredible Duke alumni, Jalen Johnson seems to fly under the radar the most, despite posting unreal numbers. Last season, Johnson led the Atlanta Hawks to a No. 6 seed in the East while averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocks. Looking ahead to his sixth NBA season at age 25, Johnson could turn into one of the league’s most feared stars.
9. Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum showcased great determination and tenacity last season, quickly recovering from an Achilles tear to play in 16 games for the Boston Celtics during the regular season. Now with a full summer of workouts under his belt, Tatum is once again poised for another All-NBA campaign. With Jaylen Brown now out of the picture, Tatum’s increased usage could lead to his best season yet.
