Duke Vs. UNC: The NBA Edition

If you were to ask one hundred people what the best basketball rivalry is, many will say Duke vs. UNC. This rivalry typically stays in the college ranks, but this time around we are going to compare the two in the big leagues.

When people criticize Duke, they often say that they don't produce NBA players. They say that Duke recruits system players that prosper in Durham and no where else. This evaluation just might disprove that theory.

We begin the Easter Conference.

Atlantic Division:

The Boston Celtics have one from each team. They currently have Rasheed Wallace (UNC) and Sheldon Williams (Duke) on their roster. Philadelphia only has one player from either team and that is Elton Brand. The Knickerbockers have one Dukie which is Chris Duhon. If your a fan of this rivalry then you can't forget the game winning layup Duhon hit at the Dean Dome a few years back. Toronto and New Jersey don't have any players from UNC or Duke.

Central Division:

In Cleveland King James has the help of two Heels, while the Pacers have 3 Blue Devils and one Heel. The Bulls have L. Deng (insert Napoleon Dynamite Dang audio here), while the Pistons and Bucks don't have any.

Southeast Division:

The Charlotte Bobcats are often referred as a pro extension of the UNC Tarheels. While their front office and coaching staff may indeed be that, on the court they are not. They have just as many Devils as Heels at one a piece. The Wizards on the other hand have two former Carolina players and no Devils. The Magic are split with one a piece, the Heat have one Dukie, and the Hawks don't have any from either team.

Lets take a trip to the Western Conference

Northwest Division:

The Utah Jazz will rely heavily on their former Duke player C. Boozer as they hope to steal the division from the Nuggets. Denver will try to get as much out of their UNC player Ty Lawson as he is there to take over for Billups when he is done. The Wolves have one UNC type and Portland and OKC have none.

Pacific:

The Phoenix Suns lay claim to one of the best Duke players in history, the one who made the best pass in Duke history, Grant Hill. They have no UNC guys. Golden State is split at 1 a piece, Sacramento has Sean May from UNC. No team in L.A. Has any from either UNC or Duke.

Last but not least the Southwest Division:

The only team to have a player from either school in this division is Houston with Shane Battier.

That brings the final count to 15 to12 in favor the guys who wear dark blue. This may be the last season for awhile that they will be able to quote that they have more guys in the NBA because UNC has several guys on their current team that will go pro after this season, Duke will more than likely only have two.

UNC may have won more games in the rivalry but at this time they have less players in the NBA than the Duke Blue Devils.