Duke Basketball Product Capitalizes on Boosted Role With Career-Highs

Former Duke basketball center Marques Bolden is in the midst of his most productive week in the NBA.

Former Duke basketball center Marques Bolden / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The Charlotte Hornets (18-58) have long been out of playoff contention and now have a long list of injuries. That injury report includes former Duke basketball players Seth Curry (ankle) and Mark Williams (lower back).

As a result, the Hornets' third NBA Blue Devil, center Marques Bolden, has enjoyed more playing time than usual over the past couple of games. And on Wednesday night, the 25-year-old Texas native, who had been out of the league since the 2020-21 season but landed a two-way contract with Charlotte in early March, delivered a career-best performance in an 89-86 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Bolden, undrafted in 2019 following his three seasons in Durham, finished with a career-high seven points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. It was only his 13th outing in the NBA and sixth this season.

He shot 3-for-3 from the field and 1-for-2 at the charity stripe, adding one steal and one block to his stat line without committing a single turnover or foul.

Right to ya Marques 👇 @MarquesB__ | #LetsFly35 pic.twitter.com/9w6bILWRHD

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) April 4, 2024

His effort came two nights after setting his previous career-high marks with four points and five boards in a home loss to the Boston Celtics.

Up next for Marques Bolden and the Hornets is a home bout against the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. ET Friday. The Magic, of course, boast one Duke basketball treasure in second-year forward Paolo Banchero, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and a first-time NBA All-Star this season.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI for more updates on NBA Blue Devils and other Duke basketball news.