Coach K’s all-Duke ‘Duke’ Team

Duke Years: 1997-01

He’s the epitome of a “Duke” guy. Stayed four years. Outstanding defender. Ultimate team player. Fundamentally sound. Polished. Tough as nails while also looking like he’d be your future Senator. Battier embodied everything that Coach K wanted from his guys, and it’s a big reason why he was one of his best all-around players.

Duke Years: 1989-93

He’s probably the closest version of what Coach K would have played like if he went to Duke. You can say what you want about Hurley, but I bet you would have loved to have him leading your team. He was really good and everything a coach has ever wanted in a point guard, and he wasn’t scared of anything or anybody.

Duke Years: 1985-89

People love to point out what Ferry didn’t do in the NBA, but often leave out what he did in college. He was the first legit stretch-5 to play at Duke, had his number retired, was the national player of the year, and the No. 2 overall pick in the Draft in 1989. Ferry was a matchup nightmare in his day, and he ushered in the era of players who everyone would love to hate.

Duke Years: 1982-86

Dawkins is the most important player Coach K ever signed, and the reason why a man that was once on the hot seat was able to bring in the first of many No. 1-ranked recruiting classes to Duke. The early ‘80s were a long time ago, but when you check Dawkins’ resume you’ll see why he was Coach K’s first national player of the year award winner.

Duke Years: 1994-98

It isn’t Duke without a floor slapper, and nobody slapped the floor more than Wojo. He was the emotional leader and defender that any fan base would kill for. His effort was his best talent, and it’s why he’s so beloved by Dukies. It’s the only way to explain how a player that never averaged more than 7 points per game in a season wound up on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Duke Years: 2018-19

He’s the only un-hateable player that’s ever worn a Duke jersey during Coach K’s tenure. Who could dislike that dude and all the things he did and how he played during the 2018-2019 season? He was the most exciting player to enter college basketball in…well, a really long time — and he lived up to the hype that had been created from his high school highlights. And although Zion’s team fell just short of making the Final Four, the foursome of Zion, R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Tre Jones were rock stars at Duke in the social media era in a way that the trio of Hill, Hurley, and Laettner couldn’t even compete with.

Duke Years: 1997-99

When you’re the best player on the best team that Coach K has ever had, you make the list. While often overlooked because they fell to UConn in the 1999 national championship, the dominance of Brand and Duke that season should never be ignored. Brand was the national player of the year on a team that lost two games by a total of 5 points, while also compiling a 32-game win streak.

Duke Years: 2010-11

Yes, a guy that only played 11 games at Duke is a starter. Why? Because those 11 games were some of the most impactful for Coach K since Irving showed up in 2010. The reason why Duke has been able to stay a step ahead of Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina is because it went all-in on recruiting the best players, no matter how long their stay in Durham. And while Corey Maggette and Luol Deng were the first one-and-dones at Duke, Irving’s impact in those 11 games showed an entire generation of players that Duke was the new place to be if you wanted to get to the NBA as quickly as possible.

Duke Years: 1999-2002

When Williams was at Duke, Dick Vitale would routinely call him the best point guard in America (including the NBA). If you were there, then you know that Vitale wasn’t embellishing. Williams won national player of the year awards as a sophomore and junior. He was also the face of a new style of play under Coach K that was more uptempo and relied on 3-point shooting.

Duke Years: 2002-2006

Now, he’s beloved in basketball circles, has a successful podcast, and is the guy who destroys Stephen A. Smith every time he’s on ESPN’s First Take. But when he was at Duke, Redick was an asshole that infuriated opposing players and fanbases. He’s the leading scorer in Duke history and one of the best shooters that’s ever touched a basketball. People might have hated the “cocky white boy with a jumper,” but they had to respect his game.

Duke Years: 1990-94

Duke had never had a player like Grant Hill until he showed up in 1990, and they haven’t had one like him since. On a team that won back-to-back national titles, Hill was the most talented and the one player no one could take their eyes off. He could play and defend just about any position on the floor and was so good and likable that the hate aimed at Hurley and Laettner often missed him. And he made that pass to Christian Laettner.

Duke Years: 1988-92

He made the greatest shot in the history of the sport. He went to four Final Fours. He won two national championships. He was the only college player to make the Dream Team. His skills made him a headache for opposing teams, and the ladies loved him — which made the fellas jealous. He was a villain and he owned it. People still hate Laettner because he was everything they wanted to be, but couldn’t. And most importantly, he was clutch.