Jon Scheyer and his No. 3-ranked Blue Devils (15-2, 7-0 ACC) were in TD Garden on Friday night to support their favorite Duke basketball products, Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr., before of their game against the Boston College Eagles (9-8, 1-5 ACC) at 8 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN).
Banchero remarked, “They brought the whole program,” referring to the several well-known Duke basketball figures there. Tatum and the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (29–12) defeated Banchero, Carter, and the Orlando Magic (23–20) 121–94. “So, I observed the players, strength coaches, and training staff in addition to Coach Scheyer.
“Talking to them is always refreshing, you know. And they had never seen me play in an NBA game before. It was nice to see them, say hello, and spend time with them, but I wish I could have performed better.”
After a stellar one-and-done season at Durham, Paolo Banchero was selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. He finished with 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
The former NBA Rookie of the Year and one-time All-Star shot 8-for-20 from the field and 5-for-6 at the charity stripe in his 29 minutes on the court, marking only his fourth game back after missing more than two months due to an oblique injury.
Alongside Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., a former Duke basketball one-and-done and lottery pick, finished his 32 minutes as a starter in the Orlando frontcourt with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 rebounds.
Five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection Jayson Tatum finished his 35 minutes of play for the Celtics, who also had assistant coach Amile Jefferson, another NBA Blue Devil, on their team with 30 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
awesome duke