There have been no credible reports or verified accounts suggesting that any Duke Blue Devils basketball player has been secretly training with an NBA legend in a hidden gym. While the idea of undisclosed training sessions with top-tier NBA figures sounds intriguing, there’s no evidence to support such claims. That said, the Duke basketball program has certainly seen notable interactions between its players and some of the biggest names in professional basketball.
For example, in March 2024, Cooper Flagg, an incoming freshman for Duke, was caught off guard during a practice when former Blue Devils standout and current NBA star Paolo Banchero made a surprise appearance. Banchero, who had a stellar career at Duke before entering the NBA, presented Flagg with the prestigious Gatorade National Player of the Year award, cementing the strong, lasting ties within the Duke basketball community. This moment was a clear reflection of the program’s culture of mentorship and camaraderie, with past and present players supporting and celebrating one another’s achievements.
In addition, in April 2025, Gordon Hayward, a former NBA All-Star, publicly expressed his admiration for Flagg’s potential. Hayward, who has an extensive career in the NBA, remarked, “I see a lot of myself in him,” underscoring the similarities between Flagg’s playing style and his own. Hayward’s words of encouragement further highlighted the bright future that many see for Flagg, reinforcing the reputation Duke has for developing top-tier talent and nurturing future professional athletes.
While these moments of recognition and mentorship demonstrate the depth of the relationships within the Duke program, there is no substantiated proof of any covert or secret training sessions involving NBA legends. Instead, these interactions serve as a testament to the open and public connections between Duke basketball players and established professionals in the league, emphasizing the strong network of support that exists for the program’s rising stars.
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