Chase Olivieri/Chronicle File Photo
Multiple choice: Which two former Blue Devils are starters on their NBA teams?
A) J.J. Redick (Orlando)
B) Shelden Williams (Sacramento)
C) Chris Duhon (New York)
D) DeMarcus Nelson (Golden State)
Two years ago, the obvious answers would have been A) and B). Not the case Wednesday, when Duhon and Nelson—and not Duke's pair of All-Americans from 2006—ripped off their warmups to tip their teams' regular seasons. The four recent graduates are part of a fraternity of 14 former Duke players in the NBA, more than any other college.
Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer haul in the largest salaries, followed by Luol Deng and Mike Dunleavy, but one pledge is the starting group's most unexpected member. Nelson, an undrafted rookie who surprised the league with an All-ACC year in his final season, is the projected starter for the Warriors tonight. Even though most saw a European basketball future for him, he beat the odds and will don the uniform for his hometown team tonight.
Full list of Dukies in the NBA after the jump.
Shane Battier (Houston)
Carlos Boozer (Utah)
Elton Brand (Philadelphia)
Luol Deng (Chicago)
Chris Duhon (New York)
Mike Dunleavy (Indiana)
Grant Hill (Phoenix)
Dahntay Jones (Denver)
Corey Maggette (Golden State)
Josh McRoberts (Indiana)
DeMarcus Nelson (Golden State)
Shavlik Randolph (Portland)
J.J. Redick (Orlando)
Shelden Williams (Sacramento)
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