Former Duke Blue Devils Stars Teaming Up in NBA

The Duke Blue Devils will see their former players team up in the 2026-27 NBA season as Kon Knueppel, Sion James, and Grayson Allen are all on the roster.

Knueppel and James played together in the 2025-26 season, and Allen is a new acquisition for the Hornets, as he was a part of the return package for Miles Bridges from the Phoenix Suns.

Allen had a great career at Duke, averaging 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, three assists, and a steal per game across 142 games. He shot 43 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three.

Allen earned many accolades during his time with the Blue Devils, including All-ACC Honors twice, All-ACC Tourney Team twice, and helping to win the National Championship in the 2014-15 season.

In the NBA, Allen has established himself as a quality 3&D wing. He averaged 16.5 points, three rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in the 2025-26 season, shooting 40.3 percent from the floor and 34.9 percent from deep.

While Allen spent four years with the Blue Devils, Knueppel was a one-and-done player. In his one season at Duke, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, four rebounds, 2.7 assists, and a steal per game, shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from distance.

The 20-year-old wing then went to the Hornets and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Knueppel averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent from behind the arc.

Unlike Allen and Knueppel, James played five years in college but spent only his senior campaign at Duke. In that season, James averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from downtown.

In his rookie season with the Hornets, James averaged 5.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and two assists per game, shooting 37.1 percent from the floor and 35.2 percent from three.

Charlotte may not be a contender in the 2026-27 season, but Duke fans should tune in to watch three former Blue Devils teaming up on the Hornets.

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