The biggest headline? Cooper Flagg, the incoming freshman phenom who hasn’t played a single college minute, was included in the lineup. While his talent is undeniable, adding him before his debut sparked instant debate.
"It's a bold projection," one fan wrote on social media. "But Duke hasn’t seen hype like this since Zion." Indeed, Flagg has been labeled a generational talent, and some analysts believe he could dominate from day one. Still, for an all-time list? That’s a stretch for many.
Equally surprising was the placement or in some lists, exclusion of Duke sharpshooter JJ Redick. Redick left Durham as the school’s all-time leading scorer and one of the greatest shooters in NCAA history. While he polarizes fans for his confident swagger, his college résumé is hard to argue with. The fact that his spot wasn’t guaranteed raised eyebrows across the basketball world.
Then there’s Jayson Tatum, now an NBA superstar, but whose one year at Duke was solid not spectacular. His college numbers didn’t match his pro-level rise, which led some voters to place him below names like Elton Brand or Carlos Boozer. It’s a classic college-vs-NBA dilemma: Should potential and post-Duke success factor in?
What Makes a “Duke Legend”?
This list, more than anything, sparked a bigger question: What defines an all-time Duke player?
Is it what they did in the college uniform or what they became afterward? Should one-and-done players like Zion and Kyrie get the edge over four-year warriors like Battier or Redick?
Fans are split, and that’s what makes the conversation fun and fierce.
Regardless of the debate, one thing is clear: Duke’s legacy is stacked with talent, and Cooper Flagg might just be the next name to live up to the hype… or even exceed it.
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