Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball National Champ Earns Another Shot in NBA

Duke basketball's Justise Winslow may well impress Toronto brass while suiting up alongside two fellow Blue Devils.
Matt Giles|
Photo credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

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Despite eight years and 344 games of NBA experience, Justise Winslow didn't land with a franchise this past offseason as a free agent. But the 27-year-old Duke basketball product has been a force for the Toronto Raptors' G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, averaging 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per outing.

And on Saturday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Toronto has rewarded Winslow's efforts and at least temporarily filled a vacant roster spot by inking the 2015 Duke basketball national champ and one-and-done lottery pick to a 10-day contract.

So, Justise Winslow, a versatile forward with 128 starts under his belt in the NBA, will earn $166,176 for his call-up with the Raptors and have a chance to potentially prove his worth to the tune of a full-time deal.

He'll be a teammate to Toronto's two full-fledged NBA Blue Devils in guards RJ Barrett, a full-time starter who returned to his hometown from the New York Knicks via the trade route in late December, and Gary Trent Jr., who is in his fourth season with the franchise and has recently started 13 straight games.

The Raptors (19-34), No. 12 in the Eastern Conference standings and coming off Saturday's 119-95 home loss to the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers (35-16), next host the San Antonio Spurs (10-43) and their Duke talent, guard Tre Jones, at 7:30 p.m. ET Monday. 

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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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