An Interesting Hypothetical Matchup - Duke 2018-19 vs. Duke 2024-25
It’s not as simple as it seems at first.
Someone posted this really interesting image on X and it got us thinking: would Duke 2024-25 beat Duke 2018-19?
It’s more interesting than you might think. For simplicity, we’ll call the teams 2019 and 2025.
2019 was obviously electrifying because of Zion Williamson and 2025 is built around Cooper Flagg.
Both players are highly intelligent but Zion gets the nod for sheer physical talent. However, Flagg has proved that he is mentally tough and capable of finding solutions.
We don't want to call these matchups but to simplify again we will.
Khaman Maluach is obviously taller and a better prospect than Javin DeLaurier or Marques Bolden. However, both have much more experience.
RJ Barrett didn't always shoot well at Duke but he, too, was very intelligent. Kon Knueppel and Barrett would be a lot of fun to watch. Both have scorer’s instinct and both can play other ways as well.
Between Sion James and Tre Jones we’d have to give the advantage to Jones, because at his best, he’s the finest defensive guard we’ve seen at Duke.
Tyrese Proctor and Cam Reddish is an interesting matchup too. Proctor is more experienced and more consistent, so we’d give him the edge.
So how would this play out?
2025 would have a very difficult time with Zion Williamson, obviously, but Maluach would likely struggle against two older players.
2019 could guard Flagg with either Williamson, Barrett or Reddish, but only Williamson would have the combination of strength and quickness to keep up with Flagg all over the court.
One of the highlights would be to see Williamson drive on Maluach. Clearly Maluach has the size to block Williamson, but the strength? Not even close.
We haven’t gotten into the bench yet but 2019 would have Bolden of course and also Jordan Goldwire, who, like Jones, was also a superb defender. Jack White was also available and he was very solid.
2025 has Maliq Brown, who is a superb defender, and Caleb Foster, who is very capable.
Both teams were very good defensively but 2025 is probably better overall in that department. However, it’d be close.
The one thing that might tip the balance to 2025 is three point shooting. Duke can get that from Proctor, Knueppel and Flagg and 2019 can get it from Reddish and White, with occasional contributions from Williamson and Barrett.
However, 2025 has Isaiah Evans, and to our mind, he tips the balance. 2019 would have to make a decision when he comes in the game: who’s going to take him? Jones? That leaves you vulnerable to Proctor. Williamson? That takes him off of Flagg. Barrett? That makes Knueppel exceedingly dangerous.
So to us, three point shooting tilts the whole thing towards 2025.
It can’t happen, it’s just a fun mental exercise, but it’s fascinating to think of these teams trying to exploit each other’s weaknesses.