On June 6, the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, featuring five-time NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum, will face off against the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, which includes eight-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving and NBA All-Rookie Team selection Dereck Lively II. Game one of the NBA Finals will be broadcast on ABC at 8:30 p.m.
As the 2024 NBA Finals approach, Duke has a rich history of alumni who have won NBA championships. Seven former Blue Devils have captured nine NBA titles. The latest was Jack White with the Denver Nuggets last year. Before him, Quinn Cook won with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023 and the Golden State Warriors in 2018; Kyrie Irving and Dahntay Jones with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016; Shane Battier with the Miami Heat in 2013 and 2012; Danny Ferry with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003; and Jeff Mullins with the Golden State Warriors in 1975.
Tatum is making his second NBA Finals appearance. In his 2022 Finals run with the Celtics, he averaged 21.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.8 rebounds across six games against the Warriors. Throughout his NBA playoff career, Tatum has averaged 24.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game over seven consecutive postseason appearances, scoring over 25.0 points per game in each of the last five years, including 26.0 points in 14 playoff games this season.
Irving is heading into his fourth NBA Finals. He previously made three straight trips with the Cavaliers in 2015, 2016, and 2017, winning the title in 2016. In 13 NBA Finals games, Irving has averaged 27.7 points, 4.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. Over his seven postseason appearances with the Cavaliers, Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, and Mavericks, he has averaged 23.2 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game in 91 playoff games, including 22.8 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds this postseason. Irving aims to join Battier and Cook as the only former Duke players to win multiple NBA titles.
Lively has a chance to join White as the only Blue Devil to win an NBA championship in their rookie season. In 16 playoff games with the Mavericks this season, Lively has averaged 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He will be the 27th Duke player to participate in the NBA Finals.
Duke will also have representation in the NBA Finals from 2015 national champion and former assistant coach Amile Jefferson, who is on the Celtics’ coaching staff; Duke’s all-time leading scorer J.J. Redick, part of the ESPN/ABC broadcast crew; and Duke alumni Stephen Pagliuca, co-owner of the Celtics, and Adam Silver, NBA commissioner.
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