Duke Blue Devils make impressive NBA Draft history with starting lineup selected

The 2025 NBA Draft has officially concluded, and five Duke Blue Devils heard their name called.

The draft kicked off the 18-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg heading to the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg is expected to make an instant impact on a Mavericks team hungry to compete in the Western Conference.

The Charlotte Hornets selected Kon Knueppel with the 4th pick in the draft. Knueppel will stay in North Carolina as he starts his pro career. 

The big man from South Sudan, Khaman Maluach, who was selected 10th, is headed to Phoenix to play with former Blue Devil Mark Williams.

The Blue Devils had three top-10 picks in the first round. Rugters was second behind them with two top-10 picks.

In the second round of the NBA Draft, two former Blue Devil guards were selected. 3-and-D specialist Sion James will join his former teammate, Knueppel, in Charlotte. The last Blue Devil draft pick in 2025 was Tyrese Proctor. The sharpshooter was picked 49th by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  

That put Duke in some impressive company.

The Blue Devils are only the third team to have their starting lineup picked in the same draft, per Hoops HQ. The others were Kentucky's 2012 squad led by Anthony Davis and UConn's 2006 team led by Rudy Gay. 

The Blue Devils were eliminated in the Final Four this past season, but it is safe to say that Jon Scheyer produced a successful draft class. 

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• Cooper Flagg vs. Bronny James to highlight NBA Summer League doubleheader
• Hornets' Kon Knueppel draft pick from Duke could become 2nd-best player in 2025 NBA Draft
• Why Duke's Tyrese Proctor will be the steal of the NBA Draft 2nd round