Providence's David Duke chases his basketball dreams in NBA's Summer League
LAS VEGAS — David Duke Jr. is just 23 years old and entering his third season in the NBA. He’s still finding his way in his young pro career, but at Summer League in Las Vegas, he’s a veteran for the Brooklyn Nets’ team.
On the roster, Duke — the former Classical High School and Providence College star — is one of two players with multiple years of NBA experience, and he’s played the second most NBA games as anyone on the team. He has a bit of pro experience in a room filled with even less.
Through four games in Summer League, Duke has been a stud on the court, averaging 17.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals. But he’s also helped out the Nets in ways that don't show up in the box score.
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“Leadership,”Summer League head coach Trevor Hendry said about what he’s seen from Duke. “He's been great with our group. He just met this group a couple of weeks ago, we all met each other a couple of weeks ago, and you couldn't tell. You feel like at times he's been the leader of this group for years. Just his ability to communicate and lead by example with his work ethic. Every day, he comes ready to work and the younger guys follow.”
“That's just kind of the role that I've walked into,” Duke told The Providence Journal on Thursday. “Any team that I come on to, I think I try to lead in my own way, bring my defensive ability to showcase and I think that sets the example in itself.”
Duke is now a free agent, but the 6-foot-4-inch guard has spent parts of the last two seasons playing on a two-way deal with Brooklyn, and at the end of last year, his two-way was converted to a standard contract with the Nets.
A native of Providence, Duke committed to play his college ball for former head coach Ed Cooley. He played with the Friars for three seasons, being named Second-Team All-Big East as a junior, before declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft, during which he went undrafted.
“Providence was a really high-level program,” Duke said. “We played a lot of high-level opponents and the coaching staff and everybody, I think they did a good job in really making sure we were ready for the next level and just ready for that level in general — bringing it every single night. The Big East is a tough conference.
“I think that just mentally prepared me, adjusting to starting out as a role player, then getting into that role of kind of like being that guy and scouts are now dialed in onto you and things like that.
"It's been really good, though. My three years there I think were very beneficial, and I would definitely do it again.”
Over the past two seasons, Duke has had his share of NBA action. He has played in 45 games, including seven starts as a rookie, and has averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds for his career. But when he’s in the G League, he shines.
In 22 games for the Long Island Nets last year, Duke was terrific. He averaged 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals, earning him All-NBA G League First Team honors and getting selected to the first NBA G League Next Up Game.
While playing in the G League isn’t the end goal, it’s a necessary launching point to the NBA for many players.
“Just showing what I can do, same thing like out here,” Duke said of his mindset. “I have an expanded role, so just taking advantage of that. Just working on the things that I might not be able to work on with Brooklyn because I'm in a small role.
“I think what's gonna get me on the floor in Brooklyn is my defense, so regardless if I'm on the ball, off the ball in the G League, as long as I'm defending, making winning plays on that end, that'll get my foot in the door and then all the other things are a plus.”
As for Duke’s pro career, there’s still a ton of basketball to be played, but as a player who's continuously fighting for a roster spot, there’s a lot of uncertainty. But for right now, he’s a leader who's still trying to make it.
“I've been working really hard, coming out here just trying to show new things that I can do, show things that I've improved on,” he said. “Just go from there. Just impact winning, lead this team any way I can — impacting the game on both ends. In terms of expectations, I don't really have specific expectations but just that things will work out as they should."
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ex-Providence star David Duke chases his dreams in NBA Summer League
