When Duke lost to Connecticut in the 1999 NCAA Championship Game, the mass exodus of the Blue Devils' top-rated underclassmen began a trend that continues today with Luol Deng declaring for the NBA draft. Deng, who is predicted by many to be a top-five draft pick, will try to avoid the negative stigma put on many Duke alums in the NBA.
"I am pleased that this portion of the process is over," Deng said in a statement. "The opportunity to pursue a career in professional basketball has been a dream of mine. With help from my family and coaches, I will continue to gather information to make the best possible decision regarding my future."
Duke has previously had six players leave for the NBA before their senior seasons, with three leaving in 1999 (sophomores Elton Brand, William Avery and freshman Corey Maggette) and three after the Sweet 16 loss to Indiana in 2002 (juniors Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy, Jr.). As disheartened as the Blue Devils' faithful are by Deng's decision, things could get a lot worse if top-rated recruit Shaun Livingston decides to break his commitment to Duke and go straight to the NBA.
The aforementioned negative stigma applies to all Duke players, graduates or not, who have played in the NBA. Coach Mike Krzyzewski has seen 17 of his former players go in the first round of the draft, six of whom garnered National Player of the Year honors while in Durham. Yet despite all of their success at Duke, only Grant Hill and Elton Brand have become what most consider legitimate NBA stars (Maggette, Boozer and Dunleavy are considered potential stars). Many pundits attribute this to Coach Krzyzewski's team-oriented style.
"I don't think that system translates into the NBA," Toronto Raptors personnel director Jim Kelly told ESPN.com. "The college game is a pass-the-ball, move-the-ball and cut-off-screens system. The NBA game is create off the dribble. A lot of it is develop your own offense, and you don't see that anywhere in the Duke game. I'm not saying it's good or bad ... but it's apples and oranges."
In addition to overcoming the Blue Devils' relative lack of NBA success, Deng will need to avoid the high rate of physical misfortune experienced by Dukies in the League. Grant Hill, a five-time all-star, has only played in 57 games over his last four seasons due to chronic leg injuries. Bobby Hurley, Duke's all-time assists leader, and Williams, the 2002 Naismith Award winner, have both been seriously injured by motor vehicle accidents early in their careers.
Many subscribe to this theory that Duke players underachieve in the NBA, but there are plenty of others who believe that the unequaled success of the Duke program over the past twenty years has created a standard that is difficult to live up to.
"You can't put your finger on why," Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson told ESPN when asked why Duke players do not live up to their college success. "If the definition of a success in the NBA is a rookie of the year and NBA championships, then that probably isn't a fair characterization of success."
Regardless of what has occurred previously, NBA scouts believe that the Deng they saw win the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlanta Regional has the necessary tools to succeed at the next level.
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