McRoberts and Dahntay Jones) this year who combined to average 24.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG and 4.5 APG. The 2002 Duke All-American averaged 11.2 PPG and 4.5 RPG during the regular season as Indiana made the playoffs with the 8th seed in the East.
GERALD HENDERSON wrapped up a terrific season in Charlotte as one of the NBA’s most improved players. After serving as a reserve guard in his rookie campaign, G broke out in a big way this year, averaging 9.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG and 1.5 APG. When G moved into the starting lineup, he averaged 13.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 2.2 APG including a career-high 32-point outing on April 6th against Orlando.
GRANT HILL continues to impress at the age of 38. After years of injury setbacks, the two-time national champ has played all but three games over the past three seasons, averaging around 30 minutes per game. This season, he scored 13 PPG while playing some of the best perimeter defense in the NBA. Phoenix finished 40-42 and Hill won the team’s Majerle Hustle Award.
DAHNTAY JONES, a 2003 All-ACC selection, averaged 6.3 PPG in 45 games as a reserve guard for the Pacers. He gives Indiana a lift off the bench with his athleticism and solid defense.
COREY MAGGETTE, a lottery pick in 1999, averaged 12.0 PPG and 3.6 RPG this year in his first season with Milwaukee. Maggette and the Bucks struggled this season, finishing 35-47.
JOSH McROBERTS, a 2007 second team All-ACC pick, averaged 7.4 PPG and 5.3 RPG with 51 starts this year in Indiana. The versatile big man continues to improve as he set career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, minutes and starts this season and was a key reason why the Pacers were able to sneak into that last playoff spot in the East.
JJ REDICK, a two-time National Player of the Year at Duke, averaged a career-high 10.1 PPG this year in the first season of a new contract with Orlando. Duke’s all-time leading scorer recently returned to the Magic lineup for the playoffs after missing 17 games with an abdominal strain.
SHELDEN WILLIAMS, a two-time National Defensive Player of the Year at Duke and jersey retiree, averaged 3.9 PPG and 2.9 RPG in a reserve role for the NY Knicks. The Landlord was part of the blockbuster deadline deal that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks.
“SIXER FIXER”
“If you own an NBA team and you want to be instantly relevant,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Michael Rosenberg in the April 11th issue of SI, “you can either start dating a Kardashian or hire (Doug) Collins as your coach.” Last year, the Philadelphia 76ers finished 27-55 (6th-worst in the NBA) and decided to do just that (hire Collins, not date a Kardashian).
Collins, father of Duke Associate Head Coach and former Devil guard Chris Collins, led the Sixers back to the playoffs after inheriting a young team that almost no one predicted would finish among the Eastern Conference’s top eight teams. After losing 13 of 16 to start the season, the Sixers kept battling to finish the regular season 41-41. Collins is a top contender for NBA Coach of the Year after leading essentially the same roster as last year to 14 more wins. As mentioned on the reverse page, former Duke player Elton Brand has played a key role in leading the Sixers back as well, providing great leadership along with his 15 points and eight boards per game.
The Sports Illustrated article on Coach Collins talks about his incredible memory (labeling him a “human DVR”) and passion for the game… which comes as no surprise to those around here who have had the good fortune of numerous visits from the Sixers coach. Congrats to Coach Collins and E.B. on a great year!
Pictured from top to bottom: Grant Hill, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand with Sixers Coach Doug Collins
DukeBluePlanet.com 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52