Duke’s big what if, Cedric Coward, shows Blue Devils what could’ve been in NBA debut for Grizzlies originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
No one will spend much time feeling bad for the Duke Blue Devils.
Advertisement
Their team in the upcoming college basketball season should be just fine, one of the best in the country, as usual.
But yeah, it could’ve been even better.
They could’ve had Cedric Coward.
MORE: Victor Wembanyama set to reach heights never touched in NBA history
Coward was committed to transfer to the Blue Devils, a high-profile get from Washington State. But then he was so good during the NBA’s pre-draft process that he stayed in the draft and was a lottery pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.
He made his NBA debut on Wednesday night and scored 14 points without missing a shot. He was a plus-24 in just 22 minutes.
Advertisement
If Coward could do that in his first-ever professional game, imagine what he could’ve done at Duke teaming with Cameron Boozer against college opposition.
No matter how far Duke goes this season, Coward will feel like a big “What if?”
MORE: VJ Edgecombe scored most points in NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain in 1959
Coward began his college basketball career at Division III Willamette University. He averaged 19.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in his only season there.
From there, he played two seasons for Eastern Washington. In his second season, he averaged 15.4 and 6.7.
Then it was on to Washington State. He was averaging 17.7 points per game on 39% 3-point shooting before a shoulder injury ended his season.
Advertisement
He was a great story, and a Duke chapter would’ve made it even cooler. Of course, going straight to the NBA is pretty sweet, too.
The Blue Devils will be OK, but it certainly would’ve been quite the thing to see this year’s squad have Coward on it, too.
