Injury Scare at Duke? Patrick Ngongba Spotted in Walking Boot During Summer Workouts

Injury Scare at Duke? Patrick Ngongba Spotted in Walking Boot During Summer Workouts

Durham, NC – Blue Devil fans are holding their breath after reports surfaced that rising sophomore Patrick Ngongba II has been seen wearing a walking boot during Duke’s summer basketball workouts.

The update comes from Jason Evans of the DBR Podcast, who noted on X.com that Ngongba was spotted in the protective boot. While there’s been no official word from Duke’s coaching or medical staff, the sight alone is enough to stir concern especially considering Ngongba’s history of foot injuries.

A Troubling Pattern?

Ngongba, a 6’11” forward-center with impressive court vision and surprising passing ability for a big man, missed the majority of his senior year of high school due to a right foot injury. Then, just as he began carving out a role for himself in Durham last season, he suffered another setback  this time with his left foot.

Now, with his name back in injury headlines, the question arises: Is this something serious, or just a precautionary measure?

What This Could Mean for Duke

Heading into the 2025–26 season, there was already some speculation that Ngongba might redshirt, particularly with Khaman Maluach and Maliq Brown expected to log heavy minutes in Duke’s frontcourt.

But with Brown suffering his own injury earlier this offseason, Ngongba had begun to emerge as a potential contributor, showcasing not only size and defensive potential but also an unexpected passing touch that left coaches and teammates impressed.

If this injury is minor  and early signs point to that possibility Ngongba could still be on track to compete for rotation minutes. After all, it’s only June, and wearing a boot doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a long-term issue. In fact, it’s often used as a precautionary measure during minor tweaks or overuse injuries in summer workouts.

Duke’s Not-So-Secret Advantage

There’s also this to consider: Duke’s medical care is elite, often an underrated asset in the world of high-stakes college hoops.

Fans might recall that Kyrie Irving, during his brief Duke career, suffered a major toe injury that could have derailed his entire future  but world-class care helped him recover and go on to an All-NBA career. The same goes for Elton Brand, whose foot injury was once seen as a season-ending blow until Duke’s staff helped engineer a record-setting return.

In short, if Patrick Ngongba needs time, he’s in the right place to heal fast and heal well.

Bottom Line:

Patrick Ngongba being seen in a walking boot isn’t great news  but it’s not panic time either.
With months before the season, no cast involved, and Duke’s elite medical team monitoring his every step, there’s still optimism that the sophomore big man will be ready to go when it matters most.

But one thing’s for sure this is a storyline to watch closely in the weeks ahead.