### Duke Blue Devils’ Starting Five Takes Over 2025 NBA Draft: Historic Sweep Signals New Era for Blue Devils Pipeline
**BROOKLYN, N.Y. —** In a draft night spectacle that will echo through college basketball lore for decades, the Duke Blue Devils etched their name deeper into NBA immortality on Thursday, as their entire 2024-25 starting lineup was selected across both rounds of the 2025 NBA Draft. It marked just the second time in program history — and the first since 2022 — that five Duke players went off the board in a single year, but this haul carried even more weight: every starter from Jon Scheyer’s juggernaut squad that stormed to a 35-4 record and an ACC championship now calls the NBA home. The Blue Devils’ dominance wasn’t just about volume; it was about quality, with three first-round lottery picks headlining a class that experts are already dubbing “Duke’s Dynasty Reloaded.”
The Barclays Center buzzed with electric anticipation as Commissioner Adam Silver took the stage, but by the end of the two-day event, it was clear Duke had orchestrated a masterclass in talent development. Cooper Flagg, the consensus National Player of the Year and No. 1 overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks, set the tone on Wednesday night. His selection capped a meteoric rise for the 6-foot-9 forward, who led Duke to the brink of a national title before a heartbreaking 70-67 Final Four loss to Houston. Flagg’s draft-night embrace with Silver wasn’t just a formality; it was a coronation, making him the sixth Blue Devil to go first overall — tying Duke with Kentucky for the most in NBA history.
Flagg’s departure to Dallas, where he’ll slot into a frontcourt alongside Anthony Davis and a resurgent Kyrie Irving, felt predestined. “Cooper’s the total package — elite defender, visionary passer, and now a scorer who’s unlocked his jumper,” said Scheyer in a post-draft interview, his voice thick with pride. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game in his lone Duke season, earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors while anchoring a defense that ranked No. 1 nationally in adjusted efficiency. Scouts rave about his 7-foot-2 wingspan and basketball IQ, drawing comparisons to a young Kawhi Leonard with better playmaking. In Dallas, reeling from Luka Dončić’s blockbuster trade to the Lakers last season, Flagg becomes the franchise cornerstone overnight. “This is the reset we needed,” Mavericks GM Nico Harrison declared. “Cooper’s a generational talent — once-in-a-lifetime.”
The lottery fireworks continued just three picks later, as Flagg’s roommate and fellow freshman Kon Knueppel fell to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 4. Knueppel, a 6-foot-7 sharpshooter from Wisconsin Lutheran High, surged up draft boards with his uncanny ability to create off the dribble and knock down contested threes. His 48/41/91 shooting splits on 9.7 attempts per game were the envy of the ACC, and his ACC Tournament MVP performance — including a 28-point explosion in the championship game against Louisville — sealed his status as a top-five lock. “Kon’s not just a shooter; he’s a connector,” Scheyer emphasized. “He elevated everyone around him.”
In Charlotte, Knueppel joins a young core featuring LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, providing instant spacing and secondary creation. Hornets president Jeff Peterson called it a “home run pick,” noting Knueppel’s fit in Charles Lee’s motion offense. Early NBA Summer League buzz has Knueppel dropping 22 points on 5-of-7 from deep in his debut, hinting at All-Rookie potential. His selection continues Charlotte’s love affair with Duke alums — the Hornets have now drafted six Blue Devils since 2009, more than any other franchise.
Duke’s draft deluge didn’t slow in the back half of the first round. At No. 10, the Houston Rockets selected 7-foot-2 South Sudanese phenom Khaman Maluach, whose rights were immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Kevin Durant blockbuster. Maluach’s journey from NBA Academy Africa to Duke’s starting center is the stuff of Hollywood: a raw athlete who started playing at 13, he exploded for 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.3 minutes, earning ACC All-Freshman nods. His 7-foot-7 wingspan and rim-running prowess drew Rudy Gobert comps, but it’s his motor and foul discipline that wowed evaluators.
Phoenix, post-Durant, views Maluach as the defensive anchor to pair with Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in a youth movement. “Khaman’s got that Giannis-like upside — length, bounce, and zero fear,” Suns GM Brian Gregory gushed. Maluach’s draft-night tears, shared with his refugee family via FaceTime, underscored the global reach of Duke’s program. “From Kampala streets to Phoenix lights,” he posted on X afterward. “God’s plan.”
Thursday’s second round brought the full-circle magic, as the remaining starters — seniors Sion James (No. 33, Hornets) and junior Tyrese Proctor (No. 49, Cavaliers) — heard their names called, completing the unprecedented starting five sweep. James, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Tulane, was Duke’s unsung glue guy: 8.6 points, 4.2 boards, and 2.9 dimes off the bench before earning a starting nod amid injuries. His ACC All-Defensive Team selection highlighted his positional versatility and 41.3% three-point clip. In Charlotte, he reunites with Knueppel, bolstering a backcourt desperate for perimeter defense. “Sion’s the ultimate pro — IQ off the charts,” Scheyer said. “He’ll be a 3-and-D staple for years.”
Proctor, the 6-foot-4 Aussie point guard from NBA Global Academy, closed the show for Cleveland. After three seasons in Durham — where he dished 3.7 assists per game as a sophomore — Proctor’s poise and 38% catch-and-shoot threes make him a plug-and-play fit behind Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs, eyeing backcourt depth amid Ty Jerome’s free agency, inked him to a four-year, $8.69 million deal shortly after. “Tyrese processes the game like a vet,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson noted. Proctor’s Summer League debut: 18 points and five assists in a win over Indiana.
This draft bonanza caps a 2024-25 season that redefined Duke’s blueprint under Scheyer. The Blue Devils, unranked entering November after losing key pieces from their 27-9 squad, reeled off a 16-game win streak post a pair of early stumbles against Kentucky and Kansas. They swept rival North Carolina twice, including a 74-71 thriller in Chapel Hill, and romped to the ACC regular-season crown (19-1). Cameron Indoor erupted during a 78-70 quarterfinal rout of Georgia Tech, but the real drama unfolded in Brooklyn: Flagg’s 28-point semifinal dagger against UNC propelled Duke to their 22nd conference tournament title.
The Final Four run — a 93-55 Sweet 16 demolition of James Madison, a 54-51 thriller over Houston in the Elite Eight — showcased the starting five’s synergy. Flagg and Knueppel’s pick-and-pop chemistry tormented defenses, while Maluach’s paint presence (84% shooting in the tourney) freed Proctor and James for open looks. Duke’s offense hummed at 83.2 points per game, tops in the ACC, blending Scheyer’s analytics-driven sets with old-school grit. “This group bought in from Day 1,” Scheyer reflected. “No egos, just execution. They believed in the process — and look where it led.”
The implications ripple far beyond Durham. Duke now boasts 114 all-time NBA picks, trailing only Kentucky (119), and has fed the pros a first-rounder in 15 straight drafts. Scheyer’s class — Flagg, Knueppel, Maluach — joins Zion Williamson (2019) and Paolo Banchero (2022) as the latest one-and-dones to ignite the league. Early returns are promising: Flagg’s 22-point debut for Dallas, Knueppel’s rookie-leading 18.3 PPG in Charlotte, Maluach’s block party in Phoenix Summer League. James and Proctor, meanwhile, provide rotational stability, with Proctor already turning heads in Cleveland’s backcourt battles.
For the NBA, Duke’s haul injects blue-chip talent into rebuilding squads. Dallas rebuilds around Flagg post-Dončić; Charlotte pairs Knueppel and James with Ball for a splashy youth movement; Phoenix eyes Maluach as Durant’s successor; Cleveland bolsters its contender core with Proctor’s savvy. It’s a reminder of Duke’s unmatched pipeline: since Scheyer took over in 2022-23, 33 Blue Devils have been drafted, 26 in the first round.
As confetti rained on the Barclays floor, Scheyer gathered his former charges for a group hug. “This is what Durham dreams are made of,” he said. “But it’s just the beginning. These guys will compete for rings — and inspire the next wave.” With Duke already reloading via five-star recruits like Airious “Ace” Bailey, the Blue Devils’ stranglehold on the NBA feels eternal. In a league craving ready-now stars, Cameron’s faithful have once again delivered. The 2025 draft wasn’t just historic; it was hegemonic. 💙 🏀
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