David Duke Jr.

David Duke Jr.'s Biography

David Duke Jr., born on October 13, 1999, has made significant strides in his career as a professional American basketball player. A player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA), he also simultaneously holds a two-way contract with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League. Duke’s basketball career kickstarted with an impressive stint in college, playing for the Providence Friars.

Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Duke indulged in a variety of sports including soccer, football, and track. It wasn’t until his high school years that he developed a dedicated focus on basketball. As a freshman at Classical High School in Providence, Duke stood just 5 feet 6 inches tall (1.68 m) and started off competing at junior varsity level. Nevertheless, Duke saw a significant change emerge in his sophomore season. His growth spurt led him to stand 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m), after which he joined the varsity team.

In his junior year, Duke astounded his teammates and coaches with an average score of 15 points per game, leading his team to a victorious Division 1 state title. After this successful season, he transferred to Cushing Academy situated in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. here, he repeated his junior year owing to reclassification. Playing alongside Wabissa Bede, Duke helped his team secure the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AA title.

As a senior, Duke further impressed community with his consistent performances, averaging 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game, assisting Cushing in reaching the NEPSAC Class AA semifinals. A four-star recruit, he chose to commit to college basketball for Providence, turning down offers from prominent institutions such as Virginia Tech, Florida, Indiana, and Villanova.

Entering his first season at Providence, Duke shared the preseason Big East Freshman of the Year accolades with Jahvon Quinerly. As his career progressed, he transitioned from the team’s starting point guard to playing off the ball by the end of the season. It wasn’t long until Duke significantly impressive everyone. He scored a freshman season-high 20 points in a 76–67 victory over South Carolina on November 17, 2018. His freshman year saw him average 7.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Duke’s sophomore year saw an impressive athleticism, particularly impressive was his performance on January 18, 2020, when he scored a season-high 36 points, making extraordinary 6-of-8 from the three-point range in a close 78–74 loss against Creighton. As a sophomore, he averaged 12 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 42% on three-pointers. Duke’s junior year saw an increase in averages per game, with 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists recorded. His talent was recognized when he was named to the Second Team All-Big East. This marked the end of his college eligibility as Duke declared for the 2021 NBA draft on April 2, 2021.

In a shocking turn of events, Duke went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. However, he was quick to overcome this setback, signing with the Brooklyn Nets on August 8, 2021. His deal was soon converted to a two-way contract, splitting his game seasons between the Nets and their NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. In September 2022, he re-signed with the Nets on a two-way deal. He subsequently earned a spot in the G League’s inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season, and on April 7, 2023, he signed a standard contract with Brooklyn.

A brief opportunity emerged for Duke with the Philadelphia 76ers, when he signed with them on September 11, 2023. Despite being waived by October 20, Duke moved on to join the Delaware Blue Coats, 8 days later. The following month, on December 14, 2023, he signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs, which was followed by another identical contract on July 26, 2024.

Besides his professional career, Duke also represented United States at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, aiding his team in winning a bronze medal. He scored an impressive 16 points, four assists and three steals in a 114–75 loss against Argentina in the semifinals.

In addition to his basketball career, Duke takes great pride in his family, of Liberian heritage. He is the sibling of two brothers. With every turn of his evolving professional career, Duke continues to demonstrate a resilient, strategic, and dynamic approach to the world of basketball.