Jon Scheyer declined a lucrative leap to the NBA, prioritizing loyalty to Duke over a high-profile reunion with former Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg in Dallas.
“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.''
As reasons for explaining choices go, Duke coach Jon Scheyer just offered up an especially good one.
Scheyer has no plans on leaving for the NBA, he said Monday on the Glue Guys podcast, all in the wake of the Dallas Mavs having pursed him during their recent coaching search.
In the end, the Mavs hired Dusty May, fresh off his national title at Michigan. No complaints there.
But Scheyer coached Cooper Flagg, now Dallas' centerpiece player. So that would've been a match in Big D, too - but not for the Duke coach.
Wisely, Scheyer never specified an NBA team in his answer on the subject, saying, "I wouldn’t be able to live with myself, not seeing this thing through. I mean, that’s just the bottom line.
"And I’m at a one-of-one place where not often you get your dream job when you’re 33.”
The Mavericks and coach Jason Kidd mutually agreed to part ways on May 19, two weeks after Masai Ujiri was named president of basketball operations. Led by Ujiri, it is our understanding that Dallas made multiple overtures to the Duke coach. ... with Flagg as the clear lure.
And Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 reported on June 22 that Scheyer had “major interest” in the position.
But ...
“The NBA is obviously the highest level of whatever you can do,” Scheyer added. “But in my own world, I know this is where I’m supposed to be right now doing what I’m doing with our guys.”
Dallas finished 26-56 last season and now, having hired May, hopes Flagg can key a turnaround in the Rookie of the Year's second season.
Flagg played for one season for Scheyer. Dallas then selected him with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.
A move involving his old Duke coach joining up with him in Dallas would have been a compelling story, no doubt about that. But Scheyer seems to also have no doubt about the decision he made to stick with his beloved Blue Devils.
“I’m really proud of the start we’ve gone off to and the continuation of what has been built here,” Scheyer said. “But I think we got so much left to do. I just think we have so much left to accomplish.
"This is where my family is. This is home for me.”
