Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus #7 UConn on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 72, to, 73
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Final
Men's Basketball
72
vs #7 UConn
73
Duke Will Add to List of NBA Champions
6/6/2024 3:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke men's basketball will add another former Blue Devil to its list of NBA champions.
On Thursday, June 6, the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, highlighted by five-time NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum, and the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, featuring eight-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving and NBA All-Rookie Team selection Dereck Lively II, will face off in game one of the NBA Finals on ABC at 8:30 p.m.
Entering the 2024 NBA Finals, seven Blue Devils have captured nine NBA championship titles. The last Duke representative to win the final game of the playoffs was Jack White with the Denver Nuggets a year ago. White was preceded by Quinn Cook, Los Angeles Lakers in 2023 and Golden State Warriors in 2018; Irving and Dahntay Jones, Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016; Shane Battier, Miami Heat in 2013 and 2012; Danny Ferry, San Antonio Spurs in 2003; and Jeff Mullins, Golden State Warriors in 1975.
Tatum is making his second appearance in the NBA Finals. In his 2022 trip with the Celtics, he averaged 21.5 points, 7.0 assists and 6.8 rebounds in six games against the Warriors. During his NBA playoff career, Tatum has averaged 24.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in seven consecutive postseason visits, amassing more than 25.0 points per outing in each of the last five years, including 26.0 points in 14 playoff games this season.
Irving will suit up for his fourth NBA Finals. He made three straight trips with the Cavaliers in 2015, 2016 and 2017, winning the 2016 title. In 13 NBA Finals contests, Irving is averaging 27.7 points, 4.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds. During his seven postseason appearances with the Cavaliers (2015-17), Celtics (2019), Brooklyn Nets (2021-22) and Mavericks (2024), he has tallied 23.2 points, 4.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per outing in 91 playoff games, including 22.8 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 boards this postseason.
Irving is vying to become just the third former Duke player to win multiple NBA titles, joining Battier and Cook.
Lively could accompany White as the only Blue Devil to secure an NBA championship ring in his rookie season. In 16 playoff games with the Mavericks this season, he has averaged 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest. Lively will be the 27th Blue Devil to represent Duke in the NBA Finals.
Duke will also be represented in the NBA Finals by 2015 national champion and former Duke men's basketball assistant coach Amile Jefferson, who is on the Celtics' coaching staff; Duke's all-time leading scorer J.J. Redick, who is part of the ESPN/ABC broadcast crew; and Duke alumni Stephen Pagliuca, co-owner of the Celtics, and Adam Silver, NBA commissioner.
#GoDuke
NBA Champions:
Jack White, Denver Nuggets, 2023
Quinn Cook, Los Angeles Lakers, 2020
Quinn Cook, Golden State Warriors, 2018
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2016
Dahntay Jones, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2016
Shane Battier, Miami Heat, 2013
Shane Battier, Miami Heat, 2012
Danny Ferry, San Antonio Spurs, 2003
Jeff Mullins, Golden State Warriors, 1975
On Thursday, June 6, the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, highlighted by five-time NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum, and the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, featuring eight-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving and NBA All-Rookie Team selection Dereck Lively II, will face off in game one of the NBA Finals on ABC at 8:30 p.m.
Entering the 2024 NBA Finals, seven Blue Devils have captured nine NBA championship titles. The last Duke representative to win the final game of the playoffs was Jack White with the Denver Nuggets a year ago. White was preceded by Quinn Cook, Los Angeles Lakers in 2023 and Golden State Warriors in 2018; Irving and Dahntay Jones, Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016; Shane Battier, Miami Heat in 2013 and 2012; Danny Ferry, San Antonio Spurs in 2003; and Jeff Mullins, Golden State Warriors in 1975.
Tatum is making his second appearance in the NBA Finals. In his 2022 trip with the Celtics, he averaged 21.5 points, 7.0 assists and 6.8 rebounds in six games against the Warriors. During his NBA playoff career, Tatum has averaged 24.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in seven consecutive postseason visits, amassing more than 25.0 points per outing in each of the last five years, including 26.0 points in 14 playoff games this season.
Irving will suit up for his fourth NBA Finals. He made three straight trips with the Cavaliers in 2015, 2016 and 2017, winning the 2016 title. In 13 NBA Finals contests, Irving is averaging 27.7 points, 4.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds. During his seven postseason appearances with the Cavaliers (2015-17), Celtics (2019), Brooklyn Nets (2021-22) and Mavericks (2024), he has tallied 23.2 points, 4.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per outing in 91 playoff games, including 22.8 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 boards this postseason.
Irving is vying to become just the third former Duke player to win multiple NBA titles, joining Battier and Cook.
Lively could accompany White as the only Blue Devil to secure an NBA championship ring in his rookie season. In 16 playoff games with the Mavericks this season, he has averaged 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest. Lively will be the 27th Blue Devil to represent Duke in the NBA Finals.
Duke will also be represented in the NBA Finals by 2015 national champion and former Duke men's basketball assistant coach Amile Jefferson, who is on the Celtics' coaching staff; Duke's all-time leading scorer J.J. Redick, who is part of the ESPN/ABC broadcast crew; and Duke alumni Stephen Pagliuca, co-owner of the Celtics, and Adam Silver, NBA commissioner.
#GoDuke
NBA Champions:
Jack White, Denver Nuggets, 2023
Quinn Cook, Los Angeles Lakers, 2020
Quinn Cook, Golden State Warriors, 2018
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2016
Dahntay Jones, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2016
Shane Battier, Miami Heat, 2013
Shane Battier, Miami Heat, 2012
Danny Ferry, San Antonio Spurs, 2003
Jeff Mullins, Golden State Warriors, 1975
Players Mentioned
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