David Duke Jr.'s next Nets chance hinges on NBA Summer League performance

May 2024 · 4 minute read

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LAS VEGAS — The Nets’ not extending a qualifying offer to David Duke Jr. surprised many, including the point guard himself.

Now an unrestricted free agent, Duke is in Las Vegas with the Nets’ summer league team, intent on proving his worth — yet again — and earning a ticket back to Brooklyn.

“You know, things don’t always happen as you really expect it. So yeah, I can say that I was expecting [a qualifying offer],” said Duke, who was elevated from a two-way contract to a standard deal April 7 as last season wound down.

“But my whole career I feel like there’s been things that have kind of been thrown at me that I didn’t expect, so it’s not really something that shook me or anything like that. I’m in this position and I know there’s a greater plan for me. I just have a different route. I’m just going to ride the wave for now and make the best out of it.”

After Duke made 45 NBA appearances and seven starts over his initial two years in Brooklyn — and finished third in the G-League MVP balloting last season — the Nets could have made him a restricted free agent.

But they decided not to, leaving him to unrestricted free agency, though he was still hopeful of working out a return.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he said. “Absolutely. I’m always optimistic about that. But you know, I try not to focus too much on that. I think if I take care of the stuff on the court, everything will fall into place.”

So for Duke the first step of taking care of things on the court was simply being out on the court.

Fellow third-year pros Cam Thomas and Day’ron Sharpe skipped summer league, not unusual for players of that experience level.

But Duke’s need to prove his growth and earn a deal made participating an easy call.

“At the end of the day, man, I’m a hooper. I just love to hoop,” said Duke. “I just love the game. I love to play basketball. So when they asked me if I wanted to play, and I said ‘yeah,’ I do want to play because it’s a chance for me to come out here and show what I’ve been working on, to show just a little bit of everything.

“And any chance I can get to play basketball, why not? So yeah, for me, I’m just out here enjoying it. It’s my third summer league, so a little more patient, a little more poised this year, and just hoping that good things come from it.”

At 23 with two NBA seasons already under his belt, Duke has shouldered a leadership role on this team with 18-year-old Noah Clowney, Kennedy Chandler (20) and rookie Jalen Wilson (22).

He’s also flashed his usual athleticism, improved his defense and is out to show he’s improved his questionable jumper.

Duke had 19 points, four assists and three steals (one of which he turned into a breakaway dunk) in Sunday’s 94-80 win over the Knicks.

He attacked the rim, pressured the ball and hit 2 of 5 from deep, auspicious for a fringe player who shot just 8.3 percent from beyond the arc last season.

“I [want to show] little things like being a defensive pest, being a disrupter on the defensive end, and showing that I can do that consistently at a high level, while also making open shots,” said Duke. “Working on my perimeter shooting is something I’ve been really keen on this offseason. … Hopefully we continue to improve on that.

“And like I said, any chance I can to come out here and play I’m going to do it. Third-year guys, some of them [say] ‘Oh, I don’t want to play.’ But for me, I don’t really have too big of an ego to think I’m too good for summer league. So for me this year, it was just a chance for me to come out here and just show what I can do and show my improvement.”

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