Kentucky might have the top modern-day track record of any school when it comes to producing NBA talent, but to no one's surprise, Duke is right up there with the best.
From Grant Hill and Elton Brand to Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving, the Duke brand has long been alive and well at the professional level — and the early returns indicate that isn't changing with Mike Krzyzewski retired. Duke's 2025 Final Four team included three projected first-round picks, all of whom could be lottery selections.
There is a dark side to the Duke-to-NBA pipeline. A few Blue Devils stars never lived up to their billing at the professional level, including a pair of No. 2 overall picks.
The Sporting News ranks the 13 biggest Duke busts in NBA history, from Shelden Williams to Jabari Parker.
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13. Harry Giles, No. 20, Kings (2017)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-11, 240 lbs
- Age at draft: 19
- Position: Power forward
- Drafted ahead of: Jarrett Allen, O.G. Anunoby, Derrick White
What happened?: Giles was one of the highest-ranked recruits in the high school class of 2016, but he made a limited impact at Duke with six starts in 26 games. His upside was still enough to make him a first-round prospect in 2017, and the Kings — with De'Aaron Fox already on board at No. 5 overall — selected Giles at No. 20 through a trade with the Trail Blazers. Giles missed the entire 2017-18 season due to injury and went on to start 17 games over two seasons in Sacramento, averaging 7.0 points per game. He ultimately averaged 5.4 points per game over parts of four seasons in the NBA, never starting another game after his time with the Kings ended.
Career stats: Giles' career-high in points came during the 2020 bubble, when he scored 23 points in a contest against the Magic.
- 5.4 ppg
- 3.9 rpg
- 1.4 apg
- 0.4 bpg
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12. Zion Williamson, No. 1, Pelicans (2019)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-6, 284 lbs
- Age at draft: 18
- Position: Power forward
- Drafted ahead of: Ja Morant, RJ Barrett
What happened?: Williamson is a fascinating case, as he is actually the all-time leader in points per game among Duke players in the NBA, but at the same time, it doesn't feel like he's met the astronomical expectations placed upon him when he arrived in the NBA.
Availability has been the primary issue for Williamson, as he has missed 258 of 472 games — 54.7 percent — since he was drafted by the Pelicans. Along the way, Williamson has received criticism for his weight and conditioning. He was also sued for sexual assault by an ex-girlfriend in 2025. It would be tough to call Williamson a massive bust given his production when he has been on the court, as averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists are tough to argue with, but there is no way to feel like the Pelicans have gotten what they expected out of the former phenom.
Career stats: Williamson has only played more than 30 games in two of his six NBA seasons, but he has never averaged less than 22 points per game.
- 24.7 ppg
- 6.6 rpg
- 4.3 apg
- 1.0 spg
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11. Nolan Smith, No. 21, Trail Blazers (2011)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-2, 185 lbs
- Age at draft: 22
- Position: Point guard
- Drafted ahead of: Jimmy Butler, Kenneth Faried, Reggie Jackson
What happened?: Smith helped lead Duke to a national championship alongside Jon Scheyer in 2010 and was an All-American in 2011, but he slipped to the No. 21 pick in the 2011 draft. That still turned out to be a bit high. Smith never panned out in two seasons with the Trail Blazers, struggling to crack Portland's rotation and posting -0.8 win shares with four starts in 84 games. Smith's NBA career ended after two years, and he became an assistant coach at Duke in 2016, just as some of the stars from the 2011 first round were starting to hit their prime.
Career stats: Smith only recorded eight double-digit scoring games in his two seasons in the NBA, topping out at 16 points in a game during his rookie season.
- 3.3 ppg
- 1.0 rpg
- 1.2 apg
- 37.1% FG
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10. Danny Ferry, No. 2, Clippers (1989)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-10, 230 lbs
- Age at draft: 22
- Position: Power forward
- Drafted ahead of: Glen Rice, Mookie Blaylock
What happened?: Ferry had a fine NBA career, spending 13 seasons in the NBA, but he never matched the anticipation that came with the No. 2 overall pick after a stellar career at Duke. Ferry initially refused to play for the Clippers after they drafted him, forcing a trade that landed him in Cleveland, and he spent a decade with the Cavaliers primarily as a role player off the bench. Ferry only averaged double-digit points per game twice, and he didn't average more than 21 minutes per game until his sixth season in the NBA. While Ferry stuck around longer than most NBA players, he couldn't match the expectations that came with his draft status.
Career stats: Ferry only averaged double-digit points per game in two of his 13 seasons and struggled to stand out as a rebounder despite his size.
- 7.0 ppg
- 2.8 rpg
- 1.3 apg
- 44.6% FG
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9. Cherokee Parks, No. 12, Mavericks (1995)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-11, 235 lbs
- Age at draft: 22
- Position: Center
- Drafted ahead of: Brent Barry, Corliss Williamson
What happened?: Parks won a national championship off the bench as a freshman before spending three seasons as a starter at Duke, impressing enough to make himself the No. 12 overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. While he spent nine seasons in the NBA, he didn't live up to the expectations of a top-12 pick. Parks only spent one quiet season with the Mavericks before a trade to Minnesota, and he would spend his career as a journeyman role player with seven different teams, averaging just 4.4 points per game.
Career stats: Parks averaged a career-high 7.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with the Timberwolves in 1997-98, starting more than half of Minnesota's games.
- 4.4 ppg
- 3.6 rpg
- 0.6 apg
- 47.0% FG
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8. Tate Armstrong, No. 13, Bulls (1977)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-3, 175 lbs
- Age at draft: 21
- Position: Shooting guard
- Drafted ahead of: Brad Davis, Tree Rollins
What happened?: Armstrong finished his college career with two terrific seasons on an otherwise middling Duke team in the pre-Krzyzewski era, but his scoring ability didn't translate to the NBA after the Bulls selected him No. 13 overall in 1977. Armstrong averaged 4.3 points per game as a rookie and saw his role decrease in year two before falling out of the NBA. Armstrong went on to start a real estate company in Maryland in his post-playing career.
Career stats: Armstrong scored a career-high 22 points in a game during his rookie season, but his career average settled in under four points.
- 3.8 ppg
- 1.0 rpg
- 1.1 apg
- 45.4% FG
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7. Cam Reddish, No. 10, Hawks (2019)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-8, 218 lbs
- Age at draft: 19
- Position: Small forward
- Drafted ahead of: Tyler Herro, Cameron Johnson
What happened?: Reddish was often the forgotten piece of Duke's stellar freshman trio highlighted by Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett in 2019, but he was one of the most aesthetically pleasing players in the country when he was at his best. The Hawks made him the No. 10 pick in 2019, giving the Blue Devils three players in the top 10, but he struggled to develop into a starting-caliber player. Reddish shot under 40 percent in each of his first two NBA seasons and saw his role decrease after a trade to the Knicks in 2022. Reddish has spent time with four teams across six seasons and fell out of JJ Redick's rotation with the Lakers in 2024-25.
Career stats: Reddish averaged double-digit points per game in each of his first three seasons but shot well under 40 percent in that span before seeing his role become more sporadic elsewhere.
- 8.5 ppg
- 2.7 rpg
- 1.2 apg
- 39.8% FG
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6. William Avery, No. 14, Timberwolves (1999)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-2, 197 lbs
- Age at draft: 19
- Position: Point guard
- Drafted ahead of: Metta World Peace, James Posey
What happened?: Avery bolted for the NBA after a strong sophomore season on a two-loss Duke team that reached the national championship game, but he quickly faded in the NBA. Avery never carved out a regular role in three seasons with the Timberwolves after being selected No. 14 overall, averaging less than 10 minutes per game each year and never exceeding three points per game. Avery spent nearly a decade playing overseas after his NBA career came to an end.
Career stats: Avery shot just 33 percent from the field on 415 career field goal attempts, including a dismal 28.9 percent mark in his final season.
- 2.7 ppg
- 0.7 rpg
- 1.4 apg
- 33.0% FG
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5. Jay Williams, No. 2, Bulls (2002)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-2, 195 lbs
- Age at draft: 20
- Position: Point guard
- Drafted ahead of: Amar'e Stoudemire, Mike Dunleavy, Nene Hilario
What happened?: Williams is another fascinating case, as his NBA career was derailed by severe injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident just a year after he was drafted. While Williams, who was waived by the Bulls in 2004, attempted a comeback two years after the accident, he never played in the NBA again. A Duke legend, Williams won a national championship with the Blue Devils and earned national player of the year honors in his final collegiate season. Williams averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 assists per game in his rookie season, shooting a touch under 40 percent from the field.
Career stats: Williams came in a bit below expectations in his only NBA season, averaging less than 10 points per game for a 30-win Bulls team.
- 9.5 ppg
- 2.6 rpg
- 4.7 apg
- 39.9% FG
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4. Trajan Langdon, No. 11, Cavaliers (1999)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-8, 218 lbs
- Age at draft: 19
- Position: Small forward
- Drafted ahead of: Corey Maggette, Metta World Peace
What happened?: Langdon was one of four Duke players selected within the first 14 picks of the 1999 NBA Draft, and the results were very much a mixed bag. Elton Brand and Corey Maggette turned into long-term starters at the professional level, while Langdon and William Avery flopped. Langdon, drafted two picks before Maggette, started only five games in three seasons with the Cavaliers, averaging more than five points per game in only one season and spending the rest of his playing career overseas after 2002. Langdon has since become a well-respected front office executive and leads basketball operations for the Pistons.
Career stats: Langdon averaged a career high six points per game in 2000-01, but his efficiency and role both decreased the following season.
- 5.4 ppg
- 1.3 rpg
- 1.3 apg
- 41.6% FG
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3. Jabari Parker, No. 2, Bucks (2014)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-8, 245 lbs
- Age at draft: 19
- Position: Power forward
- Drafted ahead of: Joel Embiid, Aaron Gordon
What happened?: Parker is a great "what-if," as he suffered torn ACLs in his first three NBA seasons and struggled to regain his form after the second injury. A standout freshman at Duke in 2014, Parker was sandwiched between Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid at the top of the draft. He began to find a rhythm in his third season with the Bucks, averaging 20.1 points per game, but a second ACL tear derailed his campaign and career. Parker only averaged 12.5 points per game over his final five seasons, struggling on the defensive end and losing his grip on a regular role in 2020. Given his draft status, Parker simply didn't pan out — even if injuries were a major factor.
Career stats: Reddish averaged double-digit points per game in each of his first three seasons but shot well under 40 percent in that span before seeing his role because more sporadic elsewhere.
- 14.1 ppg
- 5.5 rpg
- 2.0 apg
- 0.9 spg
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2. Shelden Williams, No. 5, Hawks (2006)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-9, 250 lbs
- Age at draft: 22
- Position: Power forward
- Drafted ahead of: Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, JJ Redick
What happened?: Williams was a terrific four-year starter at Duke, averaging a double-double on his way to All-American honors as a senior and posting at least three blocks per game in each of his final three seasons with the Blue Devils. While he seemed like a relatively safe pick for the Hawks at No. 5 overall in 2006, he lasted less than two seasons in Atlanta and never looked anything like the player he was in Durham.
Williams averaged 5.5 points per game as a rookie and couldn't replicate his shot-blocking production at the NBA level, largely falling out of the rotation in year two before a trade to Sacramento. Williams played for seven teams over six NBA seasons, never matching his career-high scoring mark from his rookie season.
Career stats: Williams never averaged more than 5.5 points per game in a season, and he averaged only a half-block per game over six seasons despite emerging as such a prolific shot-blocker at Duke.
- 4.5 ppg
- 4.3 rpg
- 0.5 bpg
- 46.2% FG
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1. Marvin Bagley III, No. 2, Kings (2018)
Stats and information:
- Size: 6-foot-10, 235 lbs
- Age at draft: 19
- Position: Power forward
- Drafted ahead of: Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young
What happened?: There have been worse No. 2 overall picks than Bagley, but relative to the three players selected immediately after him, he has a strong case to be Duke's biggest draft disappointment. Bagley lasted less than four seasons with the Kings, averaging 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a rookie but missing most of his second season and plateauing at that level of production before he was traded to the Pistons at the 2022 deadline.
Since that point, Bagley has struggled to establish a consistent role for himself and bounced between three different teams. He's battled injuries, but not to the degree that he can blame them for his struggles like Parker can. The three players selected after Bagley all turned into All-Stars, as the Kings passed on Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young at No. 2.
Career stats: Bagley averaged at least 14 points per game in each of his first three seasons on struggling Kings teams, but he battled injuries in Sacramento and saw his role decrease after being traded in 2022.
- 12.0 ppg
- 6.5 rpg
- 0.9 apg
- 0.6 bpg
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