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Duke basketball: 50 best players to play for Coach K

By Matthew Travis

Nov 12, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to a game against the Army Black Knights at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to a game against the Army Black Knights at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Best Duke Basketball Players
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Johnny Dawkins of the Stanford Cardinal hugs head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils after Duke defeated Stanford 70-59 in the championship game in the Coaches vs Cancer Classic men’s basketball tournament at Barclays Center on November 22, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) /

5. Johnny Dawkins (1982-1986)

The first player of the top five is Johnny Dawkins, who was one of the most consistent players in Duke history. Dawkins made an impact for the Blue Devils from the moment he stepped on campus, and he continued to make an impact until he graduated in 1986.

Dawkins held an average of 18.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game his freshman year, as he started in all 28 games he played in, and he didn’t slow down after his freshman season. Over his final three years, Dawkins held an average of 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Dawkins helped Duke win ACC Regular Season and tournament titles, and he also helped the Blue Devils make the 1986 Final Four. Dawkins also collected some personal accolades along the way, receiving All-ACC honors four times, All-ACC Tournament honors three times, was the 1986 ACC Tournament MVP, was a two-time consensus All-American, was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in 1986, and also won the Naismith Award.

Dawkins was selected 10th overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, and played in the NBA for nine years, holding a career average of 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Dawkins now serves as the head coach for UCF.