The NBA regular season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 20, and Duke will once again have a significant presence across the league. A total of 26 former Blue Devils are on opening-day NBA rosters, tying Duke for the most of any college program, according to the league’s official roster listings. The Brotherhood continues to make its mark at the highest level of the game, with former Blue Devils spread across 18 NBA organizations.
Three teams feature three former Duke players apiece. Charlotte has Grayson Allen, Sion James and Kon Knueppel, while Dallas brings together Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II. Phoenix also has a trio of Blue Devils in Luke Kennard, Khaman Maluach and Mark Williams. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. give the Magic a pair of former Duke standouts, as do Marvin Bagley III and Tyus Jones in Denver.
Jalen Johnson returns to Atlanta looking to build on his continued development, while Jayson Tatum remains a cornerstone in Boston as he pursues his seventh consecutive All-Star selection. Tre Jones is back with Chicago, and Tyrese Proctor enters his second NBA season with Cleveland. Memphis and Minnesota will each have a Duke rookie to watch, with Cameron Boozer joining the Grizzlies and Isaiah Evans suiting up for the Timberwolves. Maliq Brown is also on San Antonio’s active roster as a two-way player.
Different levels 😈😈 Uni cred @EtienneCatalan 🎨 https://t.co/PXwCXTBRqK
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) October 20, 2026
Elsewhere around the league, Gary Trent Jr. remains in Milwaukee, and Zion Williamson continues his career in New Orleans. Jared McCain begins his first full season with Oklahoma City after joining the Thunder at last season’s trade deadline. RJ Barrett returns to Toronto, while Kyle Filipowski is back with Utah. Brandon Ingram is the notable exception among the group, as he continues his rehabilitation with the LA Clippers following Achilles and heel injuries.
From established NBA stars to rookies just beginning their professional careers, Duke’s reach across the league remains difficult to match. With 26 former Blue Devils on opening-day rosters, the Brotherhood will once again have plenty of representation as another NBA season gets underway.
Duke’s 26 NBA players also join a long list of former players, coaches, managers and Duke graduates that serve on NBA coaching staffs, in front office roles or for the league office. That includes former Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who joined the NBA in the summer of 2024 as a special advisor, 1984 Duke graduate Adam Silver (NBA Commissioner), Grant Hill (part owner of the Atlanta Hawks), Trajan Landon (President of Basketball Operations of the Detroit Pistons), Quin Snyder (Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks), Mike Dunleavy (General Manager of the Golden State Warriors) and JJ Redick (Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers).
