Duke's Lively, Whitehead picked in first round of NBA Draft

Brooklyn, N.Y. — Duke men’s basketball added to its NBA Draft dominance on Thursday night as a pair of freshmen -- Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead – were each selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Lively was drafted No. 12 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder with his draft rights traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Whitehead was tapped at No. 22 by the Brooklyn Nets. With the selections, Duke extended its streak of at least one freshman drafted to 10 straight years.The Blue Devils have boasted at least one first-round selection in 12 of the last 13 drafts and multiple first-rounders 13 times in school history (all coming since 1986), including six times in last nine drafts. Lively became the program’s 30th all-time lottery selection as Duke continues to lead the nation in lottery picks.

The 2023 draft was also historic for first-year head coach Jon Scheyer, who saw his first two draft picks as the Blue Devils’ head coach. Duke has now produced 22 first-round picks since Scheyer joined the coaching staff in 2013-14.

Among the most prolific college basketball programs in generating NBA Draft picks, Duke now boasts 108 overall selections – one of just four college programs all-time to surpass 100 picks.

Former head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who retired from coaching following the 2021-22 season, mentored 46 first-rounders and 29 lottery picks. No college program nor coach has produced more lottery picks than Duke's 30 and Coach K’s 29.

Duke in the Draft

Duke has produced a total of 108 NBA Draft picks all-time, including 55 first-rounders

Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead are the first two draft picks and the first two first-rounders under head coach Jon Scheyer

Duke has produced 22 first-round picks since Scheyer joined the coaching staff in 2013-14

The Blue Devils have had at least one player selected in 24 of the last 26 NBA Drafts, including 40 first-round picks in that span

Since the NBA adopted the two-round format in 1989, Duke (46) and Kentucky (46) lead for most first-round picks in that time

Duke was one of five programs in 2023 with multiple first-round picks (Alabama, Arkansas, Houston, Michigan) and the only ACC program to have a first-round selection

Lively became the fourth Blue Devil to be selected with the No. 12 pick, joining Luke Kennard (2017), Gerald Henderson (2009) and Cherokee Parks (1995)

Lively is the first Blue Devil to be selected by Oklahoma City since the team’s relocation and the fourth Blue Devil selected by the franchise, joining Corey Maggette (13th overall in 1999), Tommy Amaker (3rd overall in 1987) and Joe Kennedy (10th overall in 1968)

Whitehead is the second Blue Devil to be selected with the No. 22 pick, joining Mason Plumlee (2013)

Whitehead is the fourth Blue Devil to be drafted by the Brooklyn Nets franchise, joining Plumlee (22nd overall in 2017), Mike Gminski (7th overall in 1980) and Mark Crow (111th pick in 1977)

Duke players have been selected by 29 of the 30 current NBA franchises, with only the Toronto Raptors having never drafted a Blue Devil

The franchise to have drafted the most Blue Devils is Detroit with nine, followed by seven for Chicago, six each for Golden State and Boston and five for Atlanta and New York