This week, we spoke with former NBA point guard and NCAA champion Chris Duhon about Duke's 2025 NCAA Tournament chances, standout prospects Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, the Duke-UNC rivalry, impacts of NIL and the transfer portal, and the NBA journeys of Duke alumni, along with key league developments involving Luka Dončić, the Knicks, and Bulls.
Chris Duhon Talks Duke’s March Madness Chances and Which Players Have Star Potential
Chris Duhon shares insights on Duke’s 2025 NCAA Tournament chances, emphasizing defense, team chemistry, and strong leadership under Coach Jon Scheyer. He highlights future NBA talents Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, discusses the Duke-UNC rivalry, evaluates Duke's recruiting strategy, and praises Mike Krzyzewski’s dedication to player relationships.
If you're interested in placing a bet on Duke to win the national title or to just check out what their odds are to win it, check out our college basketball futures page and our Best March Madness Betting Promos review.
Duke is entering the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the favorite. How do you rate their chances, and what will be the key to a deep run?
“I believe they have a great chance of winning it. The key for them is staying healthy and continuing to play really good defense. I would compare this 2025 Duke team to the 2001 team I was a part of. They have a great mixture of young talent and veteran presence.
"They can win in a lot of different ways. They can win a defensive, low-scoring game, or they can win a shootout. They have continued to get better as the season has progressed and will be playing their best basketball when it matters most.”
“Coach Jon Scheyer is creating his own legacy. He’s running the program how he sees fit, and that’s great. Obviously, it’s tough to follow the legacy of Coach K, but he’s done a great job and he’s doing it his way.”
Having played in so many big moments for Duke, what’s the biggest piece of advice you’d give the current squad about handling the pressure of March Madness?
“I would say just stay in the moment. Don’t worry about what’s ahead. Focus on the task at hand and continue to play as a team. The way their schedule was constructed, they’ve already played against good teams at neutral sites. It’s nothing they haven’t seen before.”
Winning a national championship is every college player’s dream. What do you remember most about that 2001 run?
“I remember when Carlos Boozer broke his foot during the Maryland game that we lost, and the next day, Coach K was full of energy and belief in us that we still were going to win the National Championship. The seniors followed his lead, which made everyone else believe that we would win it all too. We became even closer as a team. New guys had to step up, and they did. Once we got all the way whole when Boozer came back, we knew we were going to win it.”
Who’s one current Duke player you think has NBA star potential, and what part of their game excites you most?
“Obviously Cooper Flagg. He’s just a great all-around player, and he competes at a high level. He wants to be coached, and he’s going to continue to get better and better. I wouldn’t sleep on Kon Knueppel either. If put with the right team and coach at the next level, the future is bright for him as well.
“The main thing is that they both have high basketball IQs. They don't have to rely on their athleticism because they think and see the game fast. With their ability to stretch the floor, it gives them more space to be effective. Flagg reminds me of Grant Hill but with a better 3-point shot and Knueppel reminds me of a stronger JJ Redick.”
Duke vs. UNC remains one of the biggest rivalries in sports. With the 2025 season matchups behind us, what’s your take on where the rivalry stands today?
“This year, we were clearly better than them talent-wise across the board. Coach Scheyer has done a great job recruiting at both the high school level and in the portal. As of now, I think Duke has the advantage in the next couple of years.”
The debate around 'one-and-done' players vs. upperclassmen-led teams is always a hot topic in March Madness. Do you think Duke’s recruiting approach gives them an advantage or a disadvantage in the tournament?
“It helps that they brought in veteran guys that have been in big moments. They can help mentor the young guys and take away some of the pressure for them. The young guys are really good too, which is not common for all teams.”
Mike Krzyzewski’s legacy still looms large over Duke. What’s something about him that fans or the media might not fully appreciate?
“His love and commitment to building relationships with his players. That is something he really excelled at.”
Duhon Shares His Thoughts on NIL and Duke’s Biggest Threats
Chris Duhon shares his thoughts on how NIL and the transfer portal have changed college basketball, noting increased competitiveness but less player continuity. He continues by noting his own NIL potential and highlights Auburn, Houston, Tennessee, and Florida as key threats in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
The NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) era has changed college basketball dramatically. If NIL had existed when you were at Duke, what kind of deals do you think you would’ve landed?
“Has Coors Light been giving out free cases? I would’ve been interested in that for my beer pong league!"
Do you think NIL and the transfer portal are making college basketball better or worse?
“It’s hard to say. It’s better in that more teams can actually win it all, but it’s worse in that it’s hard to fall in love with a player because he may be gone after one year.”
Which team poses the biggest March Madness threat to Duke and why?
“Auburn, Houston, Tennessee, Florida. I think they all can win in different ways and can match up with us at every position. Arkansas and Louisville are two teams that can get hot and make a run too.”
Chris Duhon Discusses Duke Alumni and Future Superstars
Chris Duhon discusses Zion Williamson’s injury issues, Paolo Banchero’s superstar potential, Jayson Tatum’s perception as a superstar, Kyrie Irving’s injury comeback, and the Mavericks' limited championship window.
Zion Williamson has dealt with injuries and expectations since entering the NBA. Do you think he’ll ever reach his full potential, and what does he need to do to get there?
“I hope he does. He just has to stay healthy, but I can’t say that I know what he needs to do. Sometimes the injury bug is a part of the cards that you were dealt.”
Paolo Banchero is looking like a future superstar. Do you see him as a franchise player who can bring Orlando back to title contention?
“Yeah! He’s going to continue to get better too. They just need to build around him and reestablish a culture there.
“To make the next step, he needs to be more consistent from 3-point range. For the Magic to be a contender, they need more consistency from the point guard position and another 3-and-D guy on the wing.”
Despite winning his first championship, a lot of people debate whether Jayson Tatum is a true superstar or if he still has another level to reach. What are your thoughts on this?
“He will reach another level, but I also don’t understand what more he can do to appease his doubters. What is he not doing that others are?”
Do you think the fact that Tatum isn't necessarily the most outspoken or flashy superstar in the league hurts his popularity with NBA fans?
“We build a certain narrative about a player and it sticks. Boston has done a great job building a culture there and reconstructing their roster to the point that they are a great team. But now, we hold that against him.
When we tell most players to leave an organization, it is so they can win a championship. But with Tatum, people are telling him to leave a championship team to prove he can take a bad team to the playoffs? I don't know of any young superstar who has won a championship by themself for their team, if that is the case.
“Anthony Edwards is a great player and will be in the Hall of Fame at some point, but as soon as someone said that he plays like Michael Jordan, we give him all the passes in the world.”
Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending ACL injury in early 2025. Do you think we might’ve seen the last of Kyrie at his peak?
“No. He will be back better than ever.”
Despite losing Luka Dončić, can Dallas Mavericks fans be optimistic for the future given Anthony Davis and Kyrie's injury record and ages? If healthy, could they work together as a duo that could deliver Dallas a championship?
“The key phrase there is ‘if healthy.’ AD wants to play the 4, and with the size that Dallas has, he can do that. However, they are an older team, and their window is real small.”
Duhon Assesses Knicks, NBA Toughness, Luka-Lakers, and Coby White
Chris Duhon discusses the New York Knicks' need for a true superstar, compares the mental pressures of March Madness with the physical intensity of the NBA playoffs, and offers insights into modern NBA toughness. He also analyzes Luka Dončić's impact on the Lakers alongside LeBron James and evaluates Coby White’s growth with the Chicago Bulls.
What’s your take on the current state of the New York Knicks (one of your former teams)? Are they finally building a true contender?
“Yes, but they still need a true superstar. I love Jalen Brunson, but I don’t think he can be your main guy. He would be better as your second option. They need another player that can create their own shot and also shots for others. Brunson works too hard to be the only guy that can create his own shot. I believe that's why he has worn down late in the season.
“Karl-Anthony Towns is super talented. Now, he has to stay healthy, but I still believe the Knicks need just a little more. It does seem like they have a plan and direction though, which hasn’t been the case for a while.”
March Madness is all about big moments. Do you think college basketball or the NBA playoffs are tougher in terms of mental and physical demands?
“For the mental demands, I would lean to it being a little tougher in college. Just that every game could be your last can add a lot more pressure each game. For the physical demands, I lean more to the NBA because everyone at that level is such an incredible athlete, and in the playoffs, you know your opponent and what they are going to do. It just comes down to who wins the 50/50 plays, which usually are toughness attributes.”
You played in the NBA during an era of tough defense. Do you think today’s NBA has become too soft?
“It’s just different. I’m sure players from the 80s thought that players from the 90s were too soft, players from the 90s thought that players from the 2000s were too soft, etc. It’s just a competitive nature that we all have that doesn’t go away.”
What were your thoughts on the trade that sent Luka Dončić to a former team of yours in the Los Angeles Lakers? Does this move make them a true contender this year?
“I was shocked. Luka and LeBron James on the same team will definitely make them true contenders. It's possible that the trade may even help prolong LeBron’s playing career. You can't put anything past LeBron. Now he may think of having a chance to play with his other son, Bryce.
“JJ Redick is doing a great job considering the position he’s in and the pressure he has to deal with. You can tell he’s very prepared and that he’s already gotten the respect from his team.”
As a former Chicago Bulls point guard, how do you assess Coby White's development, and what advice would you offer him to maintain this level of performance?
“Keep working. Don’t stop wanting to get better. He’s starting to figure out the league, and he has a chance to be an All-Star.
“It’s tough to say whether the Bulls should look to build around White at this point as they haven't really decided what their identity/culture is going to be. But he can definitely be an important piece for a winning team, though.”
