Duke basketball forward Jack White (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
Duke Basketball Product Suddenly Released by Thunder
Jack White, a former four-year Duke basketball forward who never averaged over five points or five rebounds in a season for the Blue Devils and went undrafted in 2020, had a clutch block in one Oklahoma City Thunder preseason game.
Then, he saw a brief uptick in playing time. But he averaged only 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game across his four preseason outings.
RELATED: Beloved Duke Alum Sees Big Minutes for Thunder
And despite signing White to a two-year partially guaranteed contract during the offseason free agency, the Thunder waived the 25-year-old Australian on Sunday, Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto reported. The news came just a few days before Wednesday's season opener against the Chicago Bulls.
He would have been a teammate to fellow Australian Josh Giddey this season.
Last season, White's first in the league after spending his first two years out of Duke back home in Australia playing for Melbourne United, he was on a two-way contract with the NBA champion Denver Nuggets. He played 17 games, averaging only 1.2 points and 1.0 rebounds but earning the respect of his teammates and coaches.
There's no word on what's next for Jack White. Perhaps the former two-year Duke basketball captain will return to Australia. Or maybe he'll grind it out in the G League.
A few open roster spots remain across the NBA. So, there's a chance, albeit slim, that he will land somewhere else in the league in the coming days.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.