Duke Basketball Alum Goes No. 1 Overall in G League Draft

Duke basketball's Jack White is now a coveted talent on the G League scene.
Duke basketball forward Jack White (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)

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Former four-year Duke basketball forward Jack White went No. 1 overall to the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' G League affiliate, in Saturday's NBA G League Draft.

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Last season, the Australian's first on an NBA roster following two seasons with Melbourne United in his home country's National Basketball League (after going undrafted out of Duke in 2020), White averaged 1.2 points and 1.0 rebounds in 3.9 minutes per game across his 17 outings for the NBA champion Denver Nuggets.

He was on a two-way contract with the Nuggets, spending some time with their G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. In 14 contests for the Gold, White averaged 20.9 points, 9.6 boards, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 54.4 percent from the field, 40.9 percent beyond the arc, and 73.7 percent at the charity stripe.

Then, as a free agent this past offseason, the 26-year-old signed a two-year partially guaranteed contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder in early July.

However, the Thunder waived him earlier this month — somewhat unexpectedly, given his clutch preseason defense — ahead of the start of their regular season, which tipped off this week.

Should Jack White again post lofty numbers in the G League after the Texas Legends' campaign begins in two weeks, perhaps he'll get a call-up to the Mavericks on a 10-day contract. Dallas already boasts three Duke basketball products: Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and Seth Curry.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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