Dear John Wall: Why Duke Really Is the Best Situation for You

Dear John Wall (or anyone who knows Mr. Wall and can get him to read this),

Choosing Duke University really is your best option. Now I know you’ve heard that from Memphis, Baylor, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Miami, and Florida fans as well (and for the sake of full disclosure, I am a HUGE Blue Devil fan—since 1989), and I know words like “best” tend to be very subjective, but if you give me a brief moment of your time, I’m confident I can make my case.

Having never been a big time D-I prospect, I can only guess what actually goes into deciding which school to attend. While my list won’t be exhaustive, it will include what I generally consider to be some of the most important factors.

1. Which program will prepare you best for the next level of your basketball career (you want to get paid)?

There is an ongoing debate as to why collegiate success does not translate into comparable professional success for Duke Basketball alumni. I think it’s a silly discussion since the skills necessary to excel at the collegiate level doesn’t necessarily lead to success in the NBA.

I’m of the opinion that the real measure of success in this regard should be how many players are afforded the opportunity to continue their basketball careers professionally. In this case, Duke is the clear winner. According to RPIRankings.com, Duke led all schools with 14 players on opening day NBA rosters for the 2008-2009 NBA season.  The article also notes that the ACC leads all conferences with 58 players on opening day rosters (out of 438 total NBA players).

While making it to the NBA is certainly an accomplishment, the fact remains that in and of itself it is not a compelling enough reason to select a school. At the end of the day, the higher you are drafted, the more money you make up front, and the greater your long-term earning potential is professionally.  Since the NBA draft lottery began in 1985, Duke has produced 14 NBA draft lottery picks under coach Mike Krzyzewski—more than any other coach. In total, Coach K has produced 39 NBA draft picks, 27 of them taken in the first round.

Regardless of where you are drafted, or if you are drafted at all for that matter (DeMarcus Nelson), NBA monetary success isn’t just about your initial contract. The real money comes if and when you sign your second contract, provided you are fortunate enough to have one offered.  With that said, for the fourth time in five years, Duke has the highest paid alumni group in the NBA, with a total of over $74 million. That averages out to over $5.3 million a year—higher than the NBA average (while the minimum NBA salary varies based upon the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the average NBA player is earning almost $5 million annually).  It should also be noted that of the 14 current Duke players on NBA rosters, all but four are beyond their initial contracts, suggesting that despite the Duke stereotype, NBA teams are willing to re-up and pay them handsomely after their initial contract.

Finally, as evidenced most clearly by Grant Hill, a high-profile player from Duke is a marketer's dream. While I don’t have any specific statistics to cite, the exposure Duke affords its players, combined with the reputation players from Duke have, ensures that endorsement opportunities will be available as well.  In other words, Duke is the best school to help craft your future/long-term image.

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