Lively II, Whitehead Drafted in NBA Draft First Round

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 the 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 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.