With the season under way, a number of former Blue Devils are off to strong starts as they look to contribute for their respective teams. The Blue Zone takes a look at a handful of former Duke players' performance a week into the season:
Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
After one week in the NBA, the 76ers new starting center has showed the world why he was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, averaging 20 points and 5.3 rebounds in the first three games of his NBA career.. Okafor finished with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor—including a perfect six of six from the foul line—in his professional debut against the Celtics. Okafor's 26 points were the most by a center in his NBA debut since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1963.
The Chicago native has dazzled opponents with his footwork in the low post and has showed his ability to bring down boards against NBA big men. The rookie also proved he could handle the elite defenders in the league. In his second game of the season, Okafor scored 10 points against seven-foot center Rudy Gobert, known around the league as the "Stifle Tower".
Although he seemed to have no problem scoring, Okafor does have to work on taking care of the ball, after committing eight turnovers in his team's season opener.
Justise Winslow, Miami Heat
Winslow has been under the tutelage of Heat superstar Dwayne Wade and the 12-year veteran superstar has spoken highly of his young apprentice. But Winslow will still face challenges adjusting in his first year in the NBA. In his first three games this season, Winslow has averaged 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in his action off the bench this season. Although fellow Blue Devil Luol Deng holds the starting small forward position, Winslow will have the chance to establish himself as a defensive player first—a role not entirely unfamiliar to him in college. The forward did turn in a highlight-reel dunk in his debut against the Charlotte Hornets:
Winslow faced a stiff test when he was matched up against four-time MVP Lebron James Friday. In the loss to Cleveland, the former Blue Devil struggled against the two-time champion, who put up 29 points on 13-of-19 shooting. On the bright side, Winslow is steadily improving his three-point shooting and knocked down two shots from downtown in Sunday's matchup against Houston to help the Heat rally against the Rockets late in the fourth quarter.
J.J. Redick, Los Angeles Clippers
In the his 10th year in the NBA, Redick continues to be a key contributor for the Los Angeles Clippers. Known as one of the deadliest three-point shooters in the game, the Cookeville, TN., native has caught fire quickly in the new season, averaging 15 points per game and shooting 43-percent from deep. Against the Sacramento Kings Saturday, Redick finished with 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting including a pair of triples. The former Blue Devil's consistency will be key for a Clippers squad that will have to fight to keep pace with the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.
Rodney Hood, Utah Jazz
Hood has improved drastically in his second season in the league. The guard has started in all three games for the Jazz this season and is second on the team with his average of 15.3 points per game. After missing seven shots from deep in his season debut against the Pistons, Hood has found his perimeter stroke in his last two games and began to showcase his versatility for the team. Playing alongside Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors, Hood is likely to continue finding open shots around the floor and become a solid weapon for his team as the season goes on.
Mason Plumlee, Portland Trail Blazers
The former Duke forward has found a new home and a starting role in the Rose City. As the Trail Blazers' starting center, Plumlee has got off to a rocky start despite averaging nearly 10 points and six rebounds per game. The former Blue Devils' free-throwing shooting has been a sore spot this season as Plumlee has hit just 27-percent of his shots from the charity stripe. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen whether Plumlee can transition into a solid post presence for the Trail Blazers.
Luol Deng, Miami Heat
The veteran small forward is kicking off his second season for the Heat and has averaged 12.3 points and five rebounds in the first three games of the new season. Deng has been a consistent presence on offense while continuing to do the dirty work on defense for a Heat time desperately in need of solid wing play. With a healthy Wade and Chris Bosh leading the way for Miami, Deng will need to continue excelling as a role player to push the Heat back to the playoffs this season.
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