10 Best Duke Basketball Players of All Time

6. Johnny Dawkins

Before there was Bobby Hurley, it was Johnny Dawkins dominating at point guard for Duke. Dawkins never won a national title at Duke, so he is not as well-remembered as some of the other names on this list, but he had a major role in putting Duke basketball on the map.

Between 1982 and 1986, he was one of the most dominant college players in the country, averaging 19.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. In his senior season, he won the Naismith Player of the Year award as he took Duke to the NCAA Tournament Final. After two straight losing seasons in 1982 and 1983, Dawkins helped turn Duke into a consistent winner and a regular title contender.

5. Shane Battier

Shane Battier might be the name that represents Duke basketball more than any other player. In his four seasons in Durham, he won 131 games and only lost 15. The 2001 national title-winning team was one of the most dominant Blue Devils teams ever and Battier was the heart and soul of that team, winning the National College Player of the Year award. His 19.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior remain one of the best college seasons of all time.

On top of his offensive contributions, Battier was known to be one of the best defenders in the nation. Off the court, he was consistently named Academic All-American and was considered one of the best leaders in the sport. He maintained that reputation in the NBA, winning two championships with the Miami Heat.